NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University volleyball team (4-1, 0-0 MVC) opened its host tournament, the Belmont Invitational, with a pair of sweeps on Friday inside the Curb Event Center. The Bruins defeated Arkansas–Pine Bluff (0-7, 0-0 SWAC) by scores of 25-12, 25-15, and 25-12 before taking down Nicholls State (1-5, 0-0 Southland) 25-12, 25-13, 25-15.
vs Arkansas–Pine Bluff (25-12, 25-15, 25-12)
The Bruins overcame a slow start to dominate set one behind a powerful service game. Lilly Lutz recorded three aces early in the set, while Jordan Czajkowski and Brooke Gilleland added one each to push Belmont's lead to 16-8. A late ace from Connie Kofoed and a block from Bella Mathis highlighted the run as the Bruins pulled away for a 25-12 opening win.
Belmont carried its momentum into set two as Lucy Kay and Gilleland combined for three early kills. Lutz and setter Alivia Keegan each produced multiple service aces to keep the Bruins in front, and Hayden McGehee closed out the frame with an ace to secure a 25-15 victory. The Bruins' serving dominance continued to set the tone, as they finished the match with 17 aces from six different players.
The balanced offense carried into the final set, where Belmont opened on a 3-0 run and extended its lead to 15-6 at the media timeout. Freshmen Alex Mendillo and Campbell Onell each tallied their first career kills late in the set, and the team's depth was on full display with 10 players contributing off the bench. The Bruins closed out the sweep convincingly, 25-12.
vs Nicholls State (25-12, 25-13, 25-15)
Belmont's momentum carried over into its second match of the day, where a dominant effort at the net and from the service line powered the Bruins past Nicholls State. The opening set featured contributions across the board as Mathis and Kay controlled the net with multiple blocks and Emily Warmenhoven, Brenna Kauffeld, and Gilleland each added kills to spark a run. Belmont racked up 16 kills and six aces in the set, closing out a commanding 25-12 win.
The Bruins stayed in rhythm in the second set, pulling away behind back-to-back aces from Madison Lansdown and a multiple kills from Gilleland and Warmenhoven. Kay and Smollen combined for several key blocks as Belmont extended its lead to double digits before a service ace secured the 25-13 set victory.
The Bruins never let up in the third, using strong defensive play to fuel their offense. Lutz's back row defense set up quick swings for Warmenhoven and Gilleland as Belmont built a 10-point lead by the midway point. Erin McMullen capped off the match with a kill as the Bruins completed their second sweep of the day, 25-15. The Bruins tallied 46 total kills and 12 aces from the service line.
Up Next
Belmont continues the Belmont Invitational on Saturday against Tennessee State at 5 p.m. CT. The match can be streamed on ESPN+ or followed live on belmontbruins.com.
Follow Belmont volleyball on social media - @BelmontVB on Twitter, @belmontvball on Instagram - for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all of Belmont's athletic programs via the official app of the Belmont Bruins, available both in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
