Bellevue tops Waldorf for 2-0 NSAA start

Marylyn Mozena notched a season-high 13 kills for the Bruins
Marylyn Mozena notched a season-high 13 kills for the Bruins

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Four Bruins recorded at least 10 kills on the evening to help the No. 18 Bellevue University volleyball team to a 3-1 North Star Athletic Association victory over Waldorf University at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.

Bellevue won the first two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-23 before Waldorf held off a BU rally in the third to force a fourth set with a 28-26 triumph. The Bruins prevented the Warriors from forcing a fifth set with a 25-19 win to secure their sixth-straight victory.

BU has won 10 of 11 overall and improves to 13-5 (2-0 NSAA) on the season with the win. Waldorf saw their three-match win streak come to a halt as the Warriors fall to 10-10 overall in dropping the conference-opener.

Pakalana Helekahi led the Bruins with 14 kills on .367 hitting while Marylyn Mozena contributed a season-high 13 kills on .357 hitting. Hope Lambrecht totaled 11 kills on .269 hitting and Mikaylah Gillespie attacked at .320 to notch 10 kills.

The Bruins out-hit Waldorf in each of the three sets they won en route to a .268-.217 attacking advantage for the evening. Maddie Squiers directed the Bellevue attack with her fifth 50-assist match of the season, finishing with 56 assists and 10 digs for her eighth double-double.

Defensively, Bellevue was led by Taylor Holz's 23 digs. Verenice Chaparro dug 12 balls and U'i Kepani added 10 for the Bruins.

Waldorf was led offensively by Kayla Budgins' 17 kills on .424 hitting. Rebecca Bartnicki and Brianna Haughen each had 11 kills for the Warriors. Valerie Rivera and Elisabeth Tramm led the team with 27 and 19 digs, respectively. On defense, Briley Sullivan led with 15 digs with Rivera chipping in 10.

Bellevue improves to 43-1 in home conference matches dating back to October of 2007.

The Bruins return to the court with a pair of NSAA road matches over the weekend. BU travels to Valley City for a 7 p.m. tilt on Friday before venturing to Mayville for a noon affair.