Belmont vs. Drake
Friday, Oct. 30 | 6 p.m. CT
Belmont vs. UIC
Saturday, Oct. 31 | 2 p.m. CT
Curb Event Center | Nashville, Tenn.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Belmont University volleyball team (12-9, 9-1 MVC) returns home this weekend to host Drake and UIC following the program's best start to conference play in school history.
The Bruins enter the weekend second in the Missouri Valley Conference standings, riding a four-match winning streak after securing the program's first-ever victory over Illinois State in a three-set sweep on Sunday. Belmont has won nine of its first 10 MVC matches, including five sweeps.
Belmont will face Drake for the first time this season on Friday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. CT before welcoming UIC on Saturday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. CT. The Bruins swept the Flames in their first meeting this season, marking the program's first victory over UIC.
Saturday's match against UIC will be streamed live on ESPN+, while live statistics for both matches will be available at GoBelmontBruins.com.
What's Bruin
- Belmont enters the weekend 12-9 overall and 9-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play, sitting second in the league standings behind UNI.
- The Bruins are riding a four-match winning streak and have recorded nine conference victories, including five sweeps, marking the best start to conference play in program history.
- Belmont is coming off a three-set sweep at Illinois State, marking the first victory over the Redbirds in program history. The Bruins have secured first-time program wins over both Illinois State and UIC this season.
- Belmont opened MVC play with four consecutive victories and won 15 straight sets against conference opponents before suffering its lone league loss at Bradley.
- Sophomore middle blocker Erin McMullen was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 26 following Belmont's victories over Murray State and Illinois State.
- McMullen leads Belmont with 66 total blocks and ranks second on the team with 192 kills. She leads the MVC with a .397 hitting percentage and is tied for third in the conference with 11 solo blocks.
- Senior Brenna Kauffeld leads Belmont with 230 kills, ranking third in the MVC. She also ranks third on the team in service aces (17) and blocks (41) and fourth in digs (115).
- Kauffeld recorded her first career double-double in Belmont's victory over Illinois State, finishing with 12 kills on .579 hitting, 13 digs and two blocks.
- Kauffeld was named MVC Player of the Week on Sept. 28 and was also recognized as Belmont's September Student-Athlete of the Month.
- Kauffeld and McMullen were named to the Weber State Wildcat Invitational All-Tournament Team earlier this season.
- Libero Mya Bolton leads Belmont with 322 digs and is tied for the team lead with 22 service aces. She also ranks third on the team with 72 assists. Bolton enters the weekend fifth in the MVC in digs and earned MVC Libero of the Week honors on Sept. 28.
- Jordan Czajkowski leads the Bruins with 464 assists, followed by Alivia Keegan with 368. Both setters have surpassed 1,000 career assists, with Czajkowski reaching the milestone against Evansville and Keegan recording hers in the win at UIC.
- Junior DS/libero Lauren Evans is tied for the team lead with 22 service aces and ranks second on the team with 179 digs. The Butler transfer is one of three newcomers on Belmont's 2026 roster.
- Freshman outside hitter Sydnee Nelson has recorded at least one kill in 14 of her first 15 matches, including a career-high 11 kills in Belmont's sweep of Evansville.
- Belmont ranks first in the MVC in hitting percentage (.249).
- The Bruins were picked fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Poll, tying with UIC.
- Belmont returns MVC All-Freshman Team selections Erin McMullen and Jordan Czajkowski, both of whom earned MVC Freshman of the Week honors during the 2025 season.
- Belmont finished the 2025 season 17-11 overall and 8-8 in MVC play, finishing sixth in the conference standings.
- The Bruins are led by second-year head coach Fritz Rosenberg, assistant coach Delaney Gallagher and assistant coach Sean Cahill.
About the Bulldogs
- Drake enters the weekend 11-11 overall and 6-4 in MVC play, riding a three-match winning streak.
- Freshman outside hitter Kamryn Behrns was named MVC Player of the Week on Oct. 19.
- Fifth-year libero Jasmine Dulan earned MVC Libero of the Week honors on Sept. 14 and leads the Bulldogs and the conference with 458 digs. She also ranks third on the team with 75 assists and leads Drake with 18 service aces.
- Drake is led by head coach Darrin McBroom, who is in his 14th season with the program.
- The Bulldogs finished the 2025 season 18-12 overall and 12-4 in MVC play.
- Belmont is 0-6 all-time against Drake and will look to secure its first victory over the Bulldogs. The teams last met in the first round of the 2025 MVC Tournament, when Drake defeated Belmont in five sets.
About the Flames
- UIC enters the weekend 10-12 overall and 6-4 in MVC play, riding a two-match winning streak.
- Freshman middle blocker Maryam Hussein was named MVC Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 13.
- UIC finished the 2025 season 17-10 overall and 11-5 in MVC play.
- The Flames are led by head coach Justin Ingram, who is in his 11th season at UIC.
- Belmont is 1-6 all-time against UIC after earning its first victory over the Flames in a three-set sweep at UIC in September 2026. Saturday's matchup marks the second meeting between the teams this season.
Follow Along
Follow Belmont volleyball on social media — @BelmontVB on X and @belmontvball on Instagram — for complete coverage of the Bruins. Stay up to date with all Belmont athletic programs through the official Belmont Bruins app, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
