TUESDAY'S SCORES
Lipscomb 3,
@Belmont 1 (24-26, 25-22, 25-15, 25-20)
@Western Kentucky 3,
Austin Peay 0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-18)
Jacksonville State 3, @Alabama A&M 2 (25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-6)
LIPCOMB 3, BELMONT 1
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Despite a strong start, Belmont Volleyball was unable to topple streaking Lipscomb in an extended match session on Tuesday evening in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins (9-9) were held off down the stretch by the Bisons (9-9) in the annual Battle of the Boulevard, 3-1.
After trading points to open the first frame, Belmont surged to pull away, 13-9, forcing the Bisons to burn a timeout. The teams traded points once again and ended up locked in a series of scoring stalemates. Belmont saw the Bisons cross the 20-point threshold first and add another point on a kill before calling a timeout, trailing 21-19. The brief break in the action proved to be the spark BU needed. Lipscomb's hold on the lead slipped as kills by senior Brie Lewis (Stillwell, Kan.) and junior Alexa Nichols (Walton, Ky.) made it a one-point differential, 24-23. Belmont called its final timeout to strategize and it paid big dividends as a Lewis service ace was sandwiched by kills from Nichols and graduate student Jessica Vestal (Concord, Calif.) that gave the Bruins a 25-24 lead. LU called its final timeout but an attack error handed the set to Belmont, 26-24.
In set two, Lipscomb jumped out to an early lead, fueled by a series of scoring runs, that put it ahead, 17-11. A kill by senior Arianna Person (Lenexa, Kan.) and a pair of Bison attack errors made it a three-point set, forcing LU to call a timeout. A blistering 4-0 run, capped by back-to-back kills by Nichols, moved the Bruins to within one point, 20-19. Unfortunately despite kills from junior Maggie Mullins (Nashville, Tenn.) and Person, Belmont was held off, 25-22.
The Bruins came out of the break sluggish as Lipscomb pulled ahead early, 5-1, to start the third set. Belmont called a timeout to regroup but continued struggling to find an offensive rhythm.
The Bisons continued piling on the points throughout the frame, expanding their lead to as many as seven, 18-11, before BU called its first timeout. The Bruins would only be able to narrow the gap to eight points, 21-13, thanks to a Vestal kill. LU capitalized on late attack errors to take the set, 25-15.
Belmont opened the fourth set with a little more life than the previous one, keeping the score tight early. The Bruins gained their first lead since the second stanza, 15-14, following a pair of kills by Lewis.
The score would go on to be locked a total of 11 times through the midpoint as BU worked hard to hold on to its one point advantage. Unfortunately, Belmont fell behind by a pair of points, 19-17, and called timeout. Despite the break in the action, the Bisons extended their run to 6-0, taking advantage of Bruin errors. At the end of the flurry, Lipscomb led 20-17 and did not look back. Late kills by Person were not enough to keep Belmont within striking distance as the Bisons went on to win the set, 25-20.
Person notched her third consecutive double-double with a team-high 15 kills and 13 digs. Nichols added 10 kills in the effort while senior Ellie Ivancich (Naperville, Ill.) recorded a team-high 15 digs. Nichols also finished with a match-high four block assists.
Belmont returns to action on Friday evening in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins host in-state rival UT Martin for an OVC tilt.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 3, AUSTIN PEAY 0
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Reigning Ohio Valley Conference Setter of the Week Kristen Robertson chipped in 28 assists but it was not enough as the Austin Peay State University volleyball team dropped a straight-set decision to Western Kentucky on Tuesday Evening.
The opening frame was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams attacking efficiently. The Hilltoppers separated with a 10-4 run midway through the set to seize control early. A trio of kills from Logan Carger, Brooke Moore and Christina White pulled the Govs within three late in the frame before ultimately falling 25-20 to open the match.
The two teams were tied at 10-10 in the second stanza before Western Kentucky was able to separate, finishing the set on a 15-5 run. The Governors attempted to fight back capitalizing on a pair of service errors from the Hilltoppers, but ultimately dropped set two 25-15.
Austin Peay (17-4, 5-1 OVC) opened up an 8-6 lead in the third set, highlighted by three kills from Christina White, when the nation's third-ranked attacking team used their home court momentum to take control of the frame. Western Kentucky won eight of the next 11 points to recapture the lead and hold off the Govs for a 25-18 win in set three and straight-set victory over Austin Peay.
Christina White finished the match with 13 kills, followed by Ashley Slay with eight and Cecily Gable with seven.
Austin Peay returns to action with a three-day, two-match OVC road trip beginning 7 p.m., Friday at Tennessee Tech.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 3, ALABAMA A&M 2
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State defeated Alabama A&M (25-18, 25-19, 20-25, 23-25, 15-6) on Tuesday night in Huntsville, Ala.
Allyson Zuhlke led the team with 17 kills while Mackenzie Rombach added 10. Hannah Kirk paced the defense with 19 digs on the night. Jennifer Hart dished out 35 assist to go with seven digs.
Madison Cooper nearly had a double-double with nine kills and 11 digs.
The Gamecocks returns to OVC play this weekend as it hosts Murray State on Friday and Austin Peay on Sunday.