BELLEVUE, Neb. -- On a day in which they hit a season-high .365 the No. 25-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team swept Waldorf University by scores of 25-23, 25-13, 25-19 on Senior Day in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
Bellevue wraps up the regular season with a 23-10 overall record and 11-3 mark in NSAA play. Waldorf finishes the season with a 6-21 overall record and 3-11 mark in the North Star.
Following the match, Bellevue's two seniors – Shayla Scanlan and Fabiola Aviles – were recognized for their contributions to the BU Volleyball program over the course of their careers.
The first set was tight throughout and was tied as late as 21-21. However, back-to-back BU points from a service error and Sierra Athen kills put the Bruins up by two. The teams traded points from there and Bellevue won on a service error.
Bellevue jumped out early in the second set, using an 11-3 run to turn a two-point lead into a 19-8 advantage. Waldorf never got closer than eight and the Bruins closed the set on an 8-0 run to secure the victory.
The third set mirrored the first in that it started out close until Bellevue closed the match on a 7-2 run. Up 18-17 the Bruins rattled off three-straight points with a kill from Olivia Galas, a Waldorf attack error, and a service ace from Sidney Craig. Two points from Waldorf made it 21-19 but BU scored the final four points to earn the victory and end the match.
Scanlan led the Bruins with 11 kills on .562 hitting and Athen added nine on .412 hitting. Coree Lipovsky hit .889 with eight kills on nine attacks.
Galas dished out 31 assists and added in four kills. Madi Evans led the defense with 10 kills and Craig contributed eight to the Bruins' defensive cause.
Sarah Williams had 10 kills to lead the Warriors. Kyra Platzek and Savanna Cordle added eight and six, respectively.
BU out-hit Waldorf .365-.205 in the match, registering at least a .259 hitting percentage in each set. The .365 mark by Bruin attackers was Bellevue's highest of the season and best since posting a .520 mark against Lincoln Christian on Nov. 18, 2017 in an NAIA Opening Round match.
The Bruins will be the No. 2-seed in next week's NSAA Tournament in La Crosse, Wis. Bellevue will receive a first-round bye and will meet the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 seed on Friday, Nov. 9 at a time to be determined.