SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Fourth-ranked Bellevue University lost to 17th-rated Vanguard University in their second match of pool play, 26-28, 21-25, 25-20 and 19-25 of the 2008 NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa held at the Tyson Event Center. Bellevue goes to 31-5 overall as Vanguard will improve to 17-11.

The Bruins suffered their first set-back of the NAIA National Tournament and their first since October 29 against ninth-ranked and NCAA DII University of Nebraska-Kearney. The loss along with a Doane win over Vanguard will put all of pool D at 1-1 with the two winners on Thursday advancing to Friday’s possible quarterfinal round. A Doane College victory over Vanguard (Dec. 4) accompanied with a Bellevue University win over Lindenwod would put the Bruins into the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinals beginning at 1 p.m. on Dec 5. A Vanguard win and Bellevue victory, the Bruins would be forced to play a single-elimination match at either 9 or 11 a.m. on Friday morning.

In the first set, the Bruins had a slim 6-5 lead until a Sharai Sublett kill tied the match for Vanguard. That would be the last lead Bellevue would see until 24-25. With a chance to take a 1-0 set lead, setter, Candace Clow was called for a back row attack giving the point to the Lions (25-25). After tying the match once again at 26, Bellevue committed two straight attacking errors giving the set one victory to Vangurd.

The next set looked better for Bellevue as they took a 13-10 lead around the midway point of set two. Vanguard called a timeout then went on a 9-4 run taking a 19-17 lead. The Bruins wouldn’t recover falling 21-25 in set two going down 0-2.

Vanguard University would take a quick 3-1 lead in the third set but Bellevue would battle back tying the set twice at 6-6 and 9-9. The Bruins would take a 19-16 lead after a 10-7 run and increased that margin to four at set point (24-20). Bellevue would take their only victory of the match 25-20 in set three.

In the final set, the west coast Vanguard Lions would jump on Bellevue, 5-1, before the Bruins was able to pull to within two, 10-8. Vanguard would out-score Bellevue 3-0 forcing a Bruins timeout at 13-8. The fourth-ranked Bellevue Bruins would not give up without a fight pulling to within a point at 19-18; however, Vanguard went on a 6-1 run to close out the match take the 3-1 match victory.

Only 24 hours after the Bruins had four players finish in double figures, Bellevue had one player with 15 kills, sophomore, Jaclyn Thorson. Rachel Muller had 7 as Maureen Wardian and Kali Schnacker added 6 kills each. Candace Clow had 32 set assists and 3 kills in the loss as Katy Gregory and Muller closed out the match with 20-plus digs; 23 and 22.

Bellevue would hit a season-low .050 for the match, second only to .058 against the University of Nebraska-Kearney Lopers, coincidently the last team Bellevue lost to since September 12. The Bruins would record 74 digs as a team and 12 total blocks and 4 aces.

Vanguard University rebounded from their loss the day before against Lindenwood registering three players with 10 or more kills. Sharai Sublett led the Lions with 14 kills hitting .250 as Michal Shortridge and Hamie Heenan added 12 and 10 kills apiece. Shortridge led the team hitting .364 as Vanguard hit .114 for the match. Meghan Walsh had 42 set assists with 15 digs as Kely Wirt added 7 kills getting a team-high 18 digs from Alexandra Griffiths.

Bellevue University (\#4) will face \#9 Lindenwood at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday afternoon following the \#22 Doane and \#17 Vanguard match-up played at 11 a.m.