BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Led by Sierra Athen's double-double, the 11th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team opened North Star Athletic Association play with a 3-0 (25-19, 25-21, 25-19) sweep over Dakota State Wednesday night at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 8-2 on the season and 1-0 in the NSAA. DSU dropped to 6-3 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Athen finished the match with 12 kills and 16 digs, hitting .281 in the victory. Even Fountain added 10 kills on .267 hitting while adding eight digs and a match-high four blocks.
Peyton Schendt drilled eight kills on 19 errorless swings and middles Haley Fleischman and Sienna Black both finished with five kills.
Olivia Galas directed the BU offense to a .276 hitting percentage after dishing out 36 assists and adding seven digs and five kills.
Taylan Keefer paced the Bruin defense with a match-high 17 digs and added a service ace.
The Trojans were led by Sydney Schell's nine kills and 16 digs.
Madalyn Groft finished with 20 assists, nine digs, and three kills.
After overcoming early deficits in the opening two sets, the Bruins led from start to finish in the final set, committing just one attacking error while hitting .364 to close out the match with the decisive sweep.
The Bruins return to the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center for a 2 p.m. non-conference match on Saturday, Sept. 18 against Avila University.
