NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University volleyball team (9-2) came out strong but ultimately fell to UC Irvine, 1-3 in Saturday match at the Curb Event Center.
Belmont opened with a dominant first set, jumping out to a 9-3 lead behind a block from Lucy Kay and back-to-back aces by Connie Koefod before cruising to a 25-13 victory. The Anteaters responded in the second and third frames, edging the Bruins in tight sets despite key swings from Brenna Kauffeld and Brooke Gilleland. Belmont fought back in the fourth, highlighted by Bella Mathis' consecutive aces and a pivotal block that briefly put the Bruins in front, but UC Irvine held on late to close out the match.
Kauffeld and Gilleland paced the offense with 10 kills apiece, while Mathis added a four aces and timely swings. Lilly Lutz anchored the back row with 13 digs, and Jordan Czajkowski fed the attack with a match-high 22 assists. The Bruins also showcased their depth, with several players providing important contributions off the bench.
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Up Next
Belmont is back at home for a Red Out on Thursday, Sept. 25, taking on Murray State at 6:00 p.m. CT inside the Curb Event Center.
Follow Belmont volleyball on social media – @BelmontVB on Twitter and @belmontvball on Instagram – and download the Belmont Bruins app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for complete coverage of Belmont Athletics.
