Posted: Sep 08, 2011
BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Freshman Niki Gregory pounded a career-high 12 kills on .611 hitting to lead the Bellevue University volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-8, 25-14, 25-11) sweep over Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the Bruins' conference opener Thursday night at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 6-4 overall and 1-0 in the MCAC. Oklahoma Wesleyan fell to 6-4 on the season and 0-1 in league play.
Alannah VanGorder and Caitlyn Rueth also posted career highs with six kills apiece. Rueth added a match-high eight digs in the win.
Ashley Wurdeman finished with five kills on six swings, while adding two digs and a block.
Broady directed the BU offense to a season-high .432 hitting percentage, dishing out 40 assists, to go along with five digs and three blocks.
In the first set, Bellevue came out strong, opening a 10-1 lead highlighted by three kills from Maureen Wardian and four Eagle attack errors. OWU cut the deficit to 15-6, but that was as close as they would get as the Bruins finished the set on a 10-2 run, capped off by back-to-back blocks from Wardian and Jordan Broady. The Bruins hit .409 and registered six blocks while holding OWU to a -.105 hitting percentage in the 25-8 win.
Gregory recorded five kills in the second set and the Bruins never trailed, despite cooling off to a .281 attack percentage. Courtney Hendricks added three kills in the 25-14 second-set win.
BU raced out to a 12-3 lead and hit a sizzling .630 in cruising to the 25-11 win in the third frame, completing the Bruins' second-straight sweep.
The Bruins continue conference action tomorrow night when they host Southwestern Christian University at 7 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center
