Volleyball marks second consecutive sweep with TTU victory

The Belmont volleyball team continued its strong conference play with its second sweep of the weekend against Tennessee Tech on Saturday.

“We played really well last night so we wanted to bring that energy again,” said freshman Emma Price. “Our main thing was to have fun, go out and just play with the same intensity.”

Price recorded 35 of the Bruin’s 39 total assists. Freshman Arianna Person led the Bruins in kills with 17 and libero Emily Richards finished with a team-high 16 digs. Senior Alex Martin contributed two service aces.

Belmont scored the first point of the game off a kill by senior Scarlet Gable, but soon trailed 1-3, forcing Belmont coach Tony Howell to call a timeout.

After a back-and-forth start to the set, Belmont gained control when a kill from Martin ignited a run of six-straight points for the Bruins to make the score 21-15. Belmont maintained the lead and went on to win the set 25-20.

In the second set, the Bruins jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, but TTU fought back to even the score.

Much like the first set, the two teams traded points with neither side gaining a large advantage.

However, the Bruins were able to go on a big run midway through the set, scoring three to four points for every one TTU point.

Person and Gable combined for 11 kills in the set as Belmont won the second set 25-15.

The momentum from the second set carried over for the Bruins into the third as they jumped out to an early 4-0 lead.

This time, TTU would not rally as stellar defense and strong hitting kept Belmont well in front.

Belmont never trailed in the third set.

A kill by Martin clinched the set and the sweep for the Bruins at 25-16.

“The biggest thing was that we stayed consistent and did what we were capable of doing,” said Howell. “If we maintained our style, then we were good.”

Belmont recorded an impressive .289 hitting percentage on the match, including a remarkable .357 hitting percentage in the second set. Martin, Person, and junior Jocelyn Youngdahl all finished with hitting percentages above .300.

“Emma was distributing the ball very well and the hitters were hitting the angles the way they needed to be made,” said Howell. “Very impressive to see everything start panning out. They’re doing well.”

With the win, the Bruins are now 11-3 in conference play and 15-13 on the season.

Belmont continues its homestand on Tuesday when the team hosts Tennessee State at 6 p.m. in the Curb Event Center.

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