NASHVILLE, Tenn. - - Belmont University Volleyball dropped a five-set heartbreaker to South Alabama Friday night in its opening match of the 2026 Belmont Invitational presented by Hyatt Place Green Hills.
 
After a tough first set, Belmont truly played long stretches of tough-minded, unified volleyball, earning three match points in set four. But a late Jaguar rally and a few scramble points ultimately broke the Jaguars' way.
 
South Alabama came out extremely sharp in set one, displaying all-court defense and efficient attacking to build a 16-7 lead.
 
Madison Lansdown provided Belmont a spark with strong serving and Brenna Kauffeld and Emily Warmenhoven got going late in the frame but the Bruins labored to find consistent swings in dropping set one, 25-18.
 
A thunderous swing from Alexia Smollen got Belmont going set two, but an official interference call wiped away the score. Outstanding hustle defense from Lauren Evans provided new life and led a scoring run.
 
Erin McMullen and Alivia Keegan made their presence felt at net as the Bruins rose their level of play. Keegan, in particular, helped Belmont transition defense into quick offense and seize momentum as the match developed.
 
Kauffeld and Smollen went on a huge tear during the second set as Belmont gained confidence.
 
McMullen smashed a cross-court kill then Mialee Dabbelt added a solo block to make the score 23-19 Bruins.
 
Great defense from Lansdown secured set two, 25-20.
 
Strong serving from Keegan, Evans, and Mya Bolton got South Alabama out of system to start set three, as the Bruins scored nine of the first 11 points.
 
In fact, Belmont's serving kept them in attack mode and was reflected in stellar play at net and in the back row.
 
Back-to-back Smollen blocks gave Belmont set three, 25-16.
 
South Alabama started fast in set four, but a Kauffeld kill helped Belmont win a marathon point and swung momentum back in the Bruins' favor behind Evans' serve.
 
Some scrambling defense from South Alabama – including a dig off the head of Dalayla Blackwell – helped the Jaguars stabilize momentarily.
 
But a thunderous kill from Kauffeld and more on-point serving from Bolton gave Belmont a 19-16 lead.
 
A timely Keegan dump kill, a slide kill from McMullen, and a cross-court kill from Dabbelt made the score 24-21.
 
With the home crowd support and Belmont on three match points, South Alabama dug deep behind the serve of Anabelle Cerny to win five straight points and force set five.
 
The Jaguars won the first three points of set five before Belmont stormed back behind Warmenhoven and Keegan.
 
A rare service error on Belmont leading 9-7 swung the momentum back into South Alabama's favor as every point was fiercely contested.
 
A Smollen down the line kill and solo block gave Belmont an 11-10 lead.
 
Tied at 13, the Jaguars scraped together the final two points, including a block from Alexa Strandberg to close the match.
 
Belmont outhit South Alabama, .242. to .174.
 
Kauffeld led Belmont with 15 kills.
 
Connie Kofoed had a double-double of 12 kills and 15 digs.
 
Keegan had 40 assists and five digs, while Smollen had seven blocks.
 
Belmont (1-3), which has played four consecutive five-set matches to open the season, returns to action Saturday vs. Samford.
 
First serve is set for 6 p.m. from the Curb Event Center.