NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Day three of the Belmont Invitational presented by Hyatt Place Green Hills saw the Belmont University volleyball team battle Middle Tennessee State University in a lengthy, five-set match Sunday afternoon inside the Curb Event Center. Tied 2-2, the Bruins pulled ahead early in the critical fifth set to secure the win against the Blue Raiders.
 
Across all five sets, the scoring deficit between the two teams was only 4 points, after going to extra points in the second and third.
 
Across the five sets, MTSU hit .277 and compiled 75 kills. The Bruins hit .224 on 192 total attacks.

The match was dedicated to the late Will Lansdown, the brother of junior Madison Lansdown, a Murfreesboro, Tennessee, native. In support of Will's legacy and the fight against Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) disease, $5 from every ticket sold has been donated to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Fund, which supports research dedicated to finding a treatment and, ultimately, a cure for NPC disease. This is the second annual Will's Match.
 
Set 1
A close competition from the beginning, MTSU clung to the lead with Belmont trailing by no more than 3 until a 5-point run put the visitors up 14-7. Belmont kept up until their own 5-point streak took them from 24-17 to 24-22, before Jaslyn Reed delivered the final kill for the Raiders.

Set 2
Back-and-forth possessions put the score at 13-13, until a strong run including two kills by Sophia Henry earned MTSU a 19-13 lead. Belmont answered back. Hitters Connie Kofoed and Brenna Kauffeld, along with multiple service errors by the Raiders helped the Bruins even the match at 24-24. Back-to-back kills by Kauffeld meant the Bruins took the set with 30 points.
 
Set 3
The Bruins maintained an early lead, pulling ahead to 8-13 with an Erin McMullen kill. MTSU made up critical points with the help of Gabrielle Clinkscale, tying the game at 17-17. The visitors maintained momentum into extra points until back-to-back errors handed the set to Belmont.

Set 4
MTSU led most of the set, pulling ahead to 11-6 and 14-7. A service run from Lauren Evens brought the Bruins within range at 14-12. A pair of blocks by Lucy Kay and Brenna Kauffeld tied the set at 16-16. The Raiders maintained a few-points lead to a 25-23 finish.
 
Set 5
Emily Warmenhoven kills sent the Bruins to 1-5 and 3-7 for an early lead, and a service ace by Alivia Keegan left the Raiders trailing by 6. MTSU made up ground mid-set, but their efforts were answered by the Bruins including two kills by Kauffeld. A final attack by Connie Kofoed took the Bruins to a final 10-15 victory.
 
Up Next
Belmont will attend the Duke/NC State Invitational in Durham, N.C. next weekend, Sept. 12-13. The Bruins take on Marshall, Duke, and NC State at Cameron Indoor Stadium.
 
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