TUESDAY'S SCORES
Western Kentucky 3,
@Belmont 0 (25-22, 25-11, 25-18)
Marshall 3,
@Eastern Kentucky 0 (25-22, 25-19, 26-24)
@Southern Illinois 3,
UT Martin 2 (25-22, 25-19, 12-25, 21-25, 15-10)
Southeast Missouri 3, @Saint Louis 2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-12)
Tennessee State 3, @North Alabama 0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-13)
WESTERN KENTUCKY 3, BELMONT 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A strong start was not enough to keep Belmont Volleyball rolling on Tuesday night in the Curb Event Center. The Bruins (1-11) posted strong set scores but fell to visiting Western Kentucky (10-1), 3-0.
The teams opened the first set trading points with the Bruins finding quality early kills from junior MacKenzie Harless (Brownsburg, Ind.), freshman Kailee Bass (Aurora, Ill.) and sophomore Mary Catherine Ball (Hendersonville, N.C.). The Lady Toppers grew their lead to as many as four before the Bruins clawed back into the frame, 16-17, after kills by juniors Akia Warrior (Fort Worth, Texas) and Halee Van Poppel (Argyle, Texas). Western Kentucky used a 3-0 run to take a 21-17 lead and the Bruins called for their first huddle session. WKU inched up to set point but BU continued to fight down to the wire, closing to within three points after a pair of kills from Ball. However, the Lady Toppers were able to eke out the 25-22 win.
WKU posted a pair of quick points to start set two and the Bruins called timeout to settle down. After the brief break, the Lady Toppers continued to pick up speed as they approached the midpoint of the set. Belmont was able to cut the visitor's lead in half, 18-9, after a huge kill by sophomore Taylor Floyd (Louisville, Ky.). However, Western Kentucky kept surging and expanded its lead to 23-11 before kills by Harless and Van Poppel halted the visitor's scoring streak. It was just a scoring pause as the visitors went on to take the set, 25-11.
Set three saw Western Kentucky carry over the same momentum as the previous stanza, as the team jumped out to a fast 8-3 lead. The sudden flurry saw BU call for a timeout in hopes of slowing down the streaking Toppers. Belmont was able to close the scoring gap to single digits, 19-11, following kills by junior Mackenzie LePage (Franklin, Tenn.) and Van Poppel but WKU refused to let up. Belmont used a quick 3-0 run to inch to within 22-15 and pushed the Lady Toppers back on their heels. Up against the wall with match point in reach for Western Kentucky, BU attempted another late surge with kills coming from Floyd and Harless but the visitors were able to secure the final point and take the set, 25-18.
For the match, Van Poppel tallied a team-high 12 kills. Warrior finished with 24 assists and sophomore Peyton Kelley (Normal, Ill.) notched 11 digs.
Belmont returns to action this weekend with a trip to the Hoosier State. The Bruins will play in the Bulldog Brawl, hosted by Butler. BU opens the two-day tournament taking on Loyola Marymount on Friday afternoon.
MARSHALL 3, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University volleyball team fell in straight sets to Marshall University Tuesday night.
The Colonels lost 22-25, 19-25 and 24-26. Freshman Abby Noll posted a match-high 14 kills and 13 digs on the match. Rachel Woody had 32 assists and 10 digs.
In set one, the two teams traded punches for most of the set. Marshall took a 15-13 lead after a kill by Mion Weldon. The Colonels answered right back with two points of their own after a Thundering Herd error. The two teams would trade point’s back-and-fourth again until the game was tied at 20-20. Eastern had back-to-back errors, to give Marshall the 22-20 lead. EKU answered back with two straight points of its own after a kill by Katelynn Caserma-Kloeble to tie the game back at 22-22. Marshall won the last three points of the set, to take the opening set 25-22.
In set two, Eastern got off to a quick start and jumped out to a 12-9 lead after a kill by Noll. Marshall would respond with five of the next six points to take a 14-13 lead in the stanza. The Thundering Herd kept the momentum going scoring six of the next eight points to take a 19-16 lead. Marshall scored the last four points of the set to take the second stanza, 25-19.
Set three was much like the opening set, and the two teams traded blows most of the set. After a Herd attack error, the Colonels took a 13-11 lead. Caserma-Kloeble gave Eastern its biggest lead of the set, 22-19, after her kill. Marshall did not go down without a fight though. The Thundering Herd scored the next five points to take a 24-22 lead after an EKU error. Eastern answered right back with back-to-back kills capped off by Noll to tie the match at 24-24. Marshall scored the final two points of the match to take the set 26-24.
Sarah Schank led the way for Marshall with a team-high 12 kills and five digs. Ciara Debell chipped in 10 kills of her own.
Eastern wraps up the non-conference portion of its schedule this weekend in Morgantown, West Virginia. The Colonels take on Navy on Friday, followed by the host West Virginia and Duquesne on Saturday. First serve against the Naval Academy is at 4:30 p.m.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, SAINT LOUIS 2
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Southeast Missouri women's volleyball (5-6) fought past Saint Louis (6-4), 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-16, 23-25, 15-12), Tuesday night at the Chaifetz Pavilion for Southeast's first victory over the Billikens since 2013.
"I'm so proud of the team's resilience tonight," head coach Julie Yankus said after the match. "This was an exciting and emotional match and the team stayed tough and never backed down."
St. Louis native Mikayla Kuhlmann led the Redhawks offensively, posting a season high 17 kills with eight digs on a .289 hitting clip.
"Mikayla had an amazing performance tonight," Yankus said of Kuhlmann. "She was hitting over a big block and making huge plays. She was so fun to watch tonight."
Laney Malloy posted 16 kills and 17 digs for her fifth double-double in 2019. Annie Wehrheim who crushed the match-clinching kill, added 11 on a .364 hitting percentage.
Southeast jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match after a highly competitive 25-23 opening set that featured 11 ties and six lead changes. Malloy paced SEMO with five kills in the frame.
Saint Louis answered back with a 25-18 second set.
The Redhawks recaptured the advantage with a 25-16 third set, while swinging at a .500 pace.
The Billikens then knotted the contest, 2-2, with a 25-23 fourth set, forcing the decisive fifth set.
Tied at two sets apiece, the Redhawks stormed out to a 7-3 lead in the fifth set to force a SLU timeout.
Out of the break, Claire Ochs and Krista Berns combined for a block assist to push the advantage to 8-3 and bring on the changeover.
Malloy then delivered consecutive service aces to extend the lead to 11-4. A Kuhlmann kill moved the score to 12-5 Redhawks.
The Billikens then mounted a late rally utilizing a kill from Lauren Mershon coupled with a block assist by Mershon and Juliana Phillips to cut the advantage to 13-9 and prompt a SEMO timeout.
Wehrheim responded with a kill out of the break for match point at 14-9.
SLU came as close as 14-12 before Wehrheim registered her fourth rally stopper of the frame to clinch the victory for Southeast.
TENNESSEE STATE 3, NORTH ALABAMA 0
FLORENCE, Ala. - Tennessee State swept North Alabama 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-13) Sept. 17 in Florence Ala. The Tigers have one more non-conference match before conference play begins Sept. 27.
Julia Pierson led the match with 11 kills, securing 100 season kills. Teuila Lolotai and Sofia Garcia-Guerrios tied for 11 assists a piece. Gina Rivera-Ortiz led the match with 17 digs.
SET ONE
After a good volley, the Lions took the lead with a kill and an attack error on Khalia Jordan. A kill for Pierson, which marked her 100th for the season, tied the match for the Tigers. Block assist for Jordan and Aria Holmes took the lead for TSU. Two kills for UNA's Alyssa Dutton, gave the Lions a two-point lead. A service error and attack error on UNA tied the set. A kill from Jordan gave Big Blue the lead. Maggie Sullivan with a kill and a UNA service ace took the lead back for the Lions. A tough rally ended with a block assist from Kiara Hill and Holmes which gave the Tigers the scoreboard back. Pierson with an attack error tied the set. Two North Alabama service errors and Pierson with her third kill of the match won the set for TSU, 25-23.
SET TWO
Tennessee State took the lead early with a kill from Aniya Williams and two attack errors on the Lions. A North Alabama kill tied the set. Holmes and Kendall Bullock with a block assist gave the Tigers a two-point lead. A kill from North Alabama's Megan Zuck gave the Lions a fighting chance but with an attack error, Zuck, tied the game. Williams, Bullock and Pierson helped the Tigers offensively gain it's lead back with kills. Kariely Santana-Delgado with her first kill of the match kept the Tigers ahead. The Lions fought to stay in the set but a UNA attack error gave the Tigers set point. Jordan with her seventh kill won the set for Tennessee State, 25-23.
SET THREE
A block for Williams and Jordan gave the Tigers an early lead.
UNA with a block tied the set. Kill from Kiara Hill and three aces in a row for Williams gave Big Blue a four-point lead. Pierson with her 10th kill of the match kept TSU on top. Another ace for Williams and a kill from Holmes gave Tennessee State a 10-point lead over North Alabama. Two kills from Jasmine Fuqua and a block assist by Hill and Holmes solidified the set lead for the Tigers. A service error on UNA gave TSU match point and Pierson with her 11th kill won the match for Tennessee State, 25-13.
The Tigers will host University of Arkansas Pine Bluff Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. in Kean Hall.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3, UT MARTIN 2
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Down two sets to none, the University of Tennessee at Martin volleyball team dug deep to force a fifth set this evening at Southern Illinois but the Skyhawks were dealt a heartbreaking 3-2 setback (22-25, 19-25, 25-12, 25-21, 10-15) at Davies Gym.
Justine Walker and Logan Wallick each provided 12 kills to top UT Martin offensively, as Walker hit .550 with only one attack error in 20 attempts. Kenzie Hinshaw divvied out 29 assists in addition to a match-high three service aces and seven digs for a Skyhawk offense that committed only six combined hitting errors over the final three sets.
Defensively, Jamie Rys (23) and Lucy Kaufman (10) each equaled their career-highs in digs while Gintare Mackeviciute turned away a career-best nine blocks at the net for UT Martin (3-8).
The Skyhawks led 4-2 to begin the opening stanza as Rys (service ace) and Walker (kill) assured UT Martin of a quick start. Moments later, two straight kills by Walker kept the Skyhawk advantage at two points (14-12) but the host Salukis pieced together a 9-2 run to build a five-point lead. Kills by Karen Scanlon, Jessica Reynolds and Walker pulled UT Martin back within a point at 23-22 before Southern Illinois recovered for back-to-back points.
Hinshaw helped the Skyhawks jump out to another early lead in the second set, as she had an assist, a kill and a service ace during UT Martin’s 5-2 advantage. The Salukis scored seven of the next nine points to take the lead for good in the second set. Consecutive points by Hannah Phillips (kill, service ace) whittled the Skyhawk deficit to 10-9 while a Wallick kill late in the set made the score 19-17. However, Southern Illinois closed out the set with six of the last eight points.
UT Martin followed with one of its most impressive sets of the season, cruising to an early double-digit lead. Walker collected three kills, a service ace and a block assist in the Skyhawks’ first 14 points of the set. A Hinshaw service ace helped balloon the UT Martin advantage all the way out to 19-6 as Wallick, Scanlon and Kaufman all provided kills down the stretch to force a fourth set.
A late surge aided the Skyhawks in evening the match at 2-all. Neither side led by more than two points until the final stages of the fourth set, as UT Martin unreeled a 6-0 run behind a massive block party. Mackeviciute had a hand in four blocks over that span of six unanswered points as the Skyhawks closed in on set point at 24-19. The Salukis made it close with two consecutive kills but Scanlon delivered her fifth kill of the set to send the match into the decisive fifth set.
Southern Illinois scored four of the first five points during the fifth stanza but UT Martin responded. Mackeviciute (two kills), Hinshaw (service ace) and Wallick (kill) flipped a four-point deficit into a 9-all tie. Unfortunately, the Skyhawk comeback attempt could not be completed as the Salukis came away with a 6-1 run to wrap up the match.
UT Martin’s home opener is set for this weekend as the program hosts the two-day, four-team Skyhawk Invitational. UT Martin is set to take on Evansville (12:30 p.m.) and Mercer (7 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 20 before concluding the event with a 2 p.m. matchup against Little Rock on Saturday, Sept. 21.
EVANSVILLE 3, TENNESSEE TECH 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. -Tech volleyball dropped a midweek heartbreaker as the Evansville Purple Aces took a five-set thriller against the Golden Eagles on Tuesday.
After dropping the opening frame, the Golden Eagles bounced back to take two-straight sets and the match advantage. However, the Purple Aces took advantage in the fourth to tie things up before claiming the fifth set to win 3-2.
Sophomore Ashley Hand had a night as she recorded a career-high 58 assists against the Purple Aces. Junior Ali Verzani and senior Rachel Thomas continued to lead the Golden Eagles up front as they each tallied 15 kills in the contest. Verzani also led the team in digs, tallying 15 against the Aces and followed closely by freshman Julia Wheeler with 13. Three Golden Eagles tallied a trio of blocks in the contest in sophomore Taylor Dorsey, Verzani, and Thomas.
The Golden Eagles opened the contest on a 5-1 run. The Purple Aces would then work their way to a 10-6 run of their own to close the gap and tie the match at 11. The Golden Eagles would battle the Aces through seven ties to a 24-24 stalemate and spoil an Aces' set-point. However, Evansville would secure a pair of kills and take the opening frame, 26-24.
The Golden Eagles and Aces opened the second frame to a 5-5 tie. The Golden Eagles would break away following an 8-3 run to take a five-point lead, 13-8. The Purple Aces would once again even things at 15, but a 10-6 run for the Golden Eagles would tie the match up at one set apiece, 25-21.
Tech would take the opening lead in the third, but the game was quickly brought back even by the Aces, 5-5. The two squads continued to battle back-and-forth through six more ties in route to a 22-22 set three. The Aces would take the 23-22 advantage, but a Dorsey kill would knot things up, before a pair of Verzani kills would seal the set and give Tech the 2-1 advantage, 25-23.
Unlike the previous three sets, the Purple Aces took the early lead in the fourth set on a 7-3 run. The Golden Eagles went on a 6-3 run to cut the deficit down to one, 10-9, but that was as close as they would get. Evansville would go on to outscore Tech 15-10 to even up the match at two, 25-19.
The final set would open to a 3-3 tie, but the Purple Aces would then score four-straight to take a 7-3 lead. The Golden Eagles would cut the deficit in half, 10-8, but Evansville would battle back with a 5-2 run to close out the match, 15-10.
The Golden Eagles bring things back to the Hoop next weekend as they host the Golden Eagle Invitational with their home-opener against the Western Illinois Leathernecks at noon on Friday. Tech will return to the court Saturday as they take on the Southern Illinois Salukis at 10 a.m., before closing things out at 7:30 p.m. against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.