Bruins Sweep Clocktower Tournament to Claim Championship

LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Belmont University volleyball claimed the Clocktower Tournament title Saturday, going 3-0 on the weekend. The Bruins defeated host Siena on Friday before returning to the UHY Center to outlast Columbia in five sets and sweep Stonehill, securing the championship.   
 
vs. Columbia (23-25, 25-19, 18-25, 25-21, 18-16)   

Belmont opened early Saturday morning with a gritty five-set victory over Columbia. After dropping a narrow first set, the Bruins responded behind four kills from Bella Mathis and an ace from Brooke Gilleland to even the match. Columbia controlled the third, but Belmont bounced back in set four thanks to five kills apiece from Brenna Kauffeld and Emily Warmenhoven.   

Belmont came out hot in the 5th frame, building a 4-1 cushion. While Columbia came back to rally, the Bruins sealed the win behind swings from Gilleland and Kauffeld. Warmenhoven paced all hitters with 19 kills, while Kauffeld added season-high 15. Setter Jordan Czajkowski guided the attack with 36 assists and a match-best four aces, while Lilly Lutz provided steady back-row defense.   
 
vs. Stonehill (25-13, 25-22, 25-17)   

Less than an hour later, Belmont capped the event with a sweep of Stonehill. The Bruins raced to a 6-1 start in set one, highlighted by strong block coverage from Lilly Lutz and two early aces from Connie Kofoed. Smart swings and disciplined defense kept Belmont in control through the second set.   

The offense surged in the third behind kills from Kofoed, Gilleland, Lucy Kay, and Erin McMullen. Czajkowski and Alivia Keegan shared setting duties, while Lutz and Madison Lansdown anchored the back row. Kofoed led the match with nine kills and a match-high four aces, while Kay recorded a perfect 1.000 hitting percentage.  

Tournament Honors  
 
Senior outside hitter Brenna Kauffeld was named Clocktower Tournament MVP after leading the Bruins with a season-high 15 kills in the match against Columbia and totaling 31 kills over the weekend. Kauffeld's quick offense, powerful swings, and strong blocking on the right side were key to Belmont's success throughout the tournament. She was joined on All-Tournament Team by senior outside hitter Brooke Gilleland and senior libero Lilly Lutz. Gilleland posted a career-high 27 kills in the match against Siena and finished the weekend with 45 total kills. Lutz tallied 50 digs, leading the Bruin's defense.  
 
Up Next  
 
Belmont returns to Nashville to face Lipscomb on Friday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. CT. The match will stream live on ESPN+ and can be followed on belmontbruins.com.  

Follow Belmont volleyball on social media — @BelmontVB on X and @belmontvball on Instagram — and stay current with all Belmont Athletics via the official Bruins app, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.