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9/6/2009 - VOLLEYBALL
Belmont Impressive In A-Sun Tournament of the Week
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The Belmont Bruins Volleyball program just proved why the Belmont Invitational was chosen as the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament of the Week. Playing against Ohio Valley Conference's Southeast Missouri State, Southland Conference's The University of Central Arkansas and the Southern Conference's Samford, the Bruins went the distance early, winning the first three sets of the the tournament against SEMO and finishing 2-1 overall.
W, 3-0, Southeast Missouri State
Belmont volleyball won the first match of the 2009 season on Friday night, defeating Southeast Missouri State in three sets (25-21, 25-19, 25-21) in the opening day of the Belmont Invitational at the Curb Event Center.
The Bruins were led by a steadfast defensive effort which held the Redhawks to a .078 hitting percentage. With 51 total digs, Belmont nearly doubled a previous three-set season-high of 27 against Wichita State to open the season. The Bruins' nine team blocks sets an overall season-high six matches into the season.
"We really worked hard defensively," Head Coach Deane Webb said. "That is something that we have been stressing in practice, and defending at a high-level was our primary focus today. [SEMO] is traditionally a strong defensive team, and to out-defend them in the front- and back-row was a very good performance for us."
Megan Clements registered her sixth match in a row with double figures in digs, finishing with 18. Jenny Gray marked a season-high of 11 digs, also adding seven kills and five blocks.
http://belmontbruins.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/090409aaa.html
L, 3-0, University of Central Arkansas
After winning the first match of the season last night, Belmont volleyball lost to Central Arkansas in three sets on Saturday morning at the Curb Event Center in the Belmont Invitational (11-25, 23-25, 23-25).
UCA was paced by Chole Evans' match-high of 20 kills with a .515 hitting percentage; Evaree Evans followed with 10 kills and a .421 hitting rate. Behind their highest team hitting percentage of the season (.307) the Sugar Bears recorded a total of 50 kills with two players reaching double-figures in digs.
Kayla Albritton finished with seven kills on a season-high .467 hitting percentage and Maggie Johnson matched Albritton with seven kills and added nine digs.
http://belmontbruins.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/090509aaa.html
W, 3-0, Samford
Belmont volleyball swept Samford on Saturday night to conclude the 2009 Belmont Invitational at the Curb Event Center (28-26, 25-18, 25-21). Kayla Albritton and Megan Clements both received all-tournament nods after leading the Bruins to their first two wins of the season.
Clements earned her way on the all-tournament team with a total of 48 digs (5.33 per set) while recording 21 tonight. Albritton was Belmont's most-accurate hitter with a .396 attacking percentage, 21 kills and five aces over the weekend.
"It was a good field," Head Coach Deane Webb said of the tournament's competition. "In tonight's match, we really had strong defensive play, digging over 20 balls a set and almost three blocks per set. I think both teams played well defensively - a lot of long rallies. There was a lot of determination and hard-work on both sides and we are glad to come out with the win."
The Bruins doubled their season-high of digs in a three-set match with 62 against the Bulldogs. The total is just two away from Tuesday's season-high of 64 digs in five sets against Western Kentucky. Adding to their defensive prowess, the Bruins held Samford to a .092 hitting percentage on the night. It was Belmont's second sub-.100 defensive performance in three matches.
Belmont won set one in dramatic fashion after coming from behind to force extra points, ending with a 28-26 advantage. The Bruins started off strong with a 9-3 advantage before Samford put a run of their own together by scoring seven of the next eight points to tie the set at 11. Down 20-23 later in the set, Belmont chipped away at the Bulldogs' lead behind courageous efforts from the Belmont front line of Albritton, Jenny Gray and Tara Blood who each accounted for the last three kills of the set for the Bruins.
http://belmontbruins.cstv.com/sports/w-volley/recaps/090509aab.html
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
