CLINTON, Iowa -- The Bellevue University volleyball team concluded the Ashford Saints Invitational Saturday afternoon with a 26-24, 25-8, 25-19 sweep over Clarke University at Kehl Arena. The Bruins finished with a 3-1 record in the two-day tournament.
With the win, 23rd-ranked Bellevue improved to 14-5 while Clarke fell to 8-5 overall.
Annie Benson notched her third double-double of the season recording 11 kills, 11 digs and four block assists.
Caitlyn Rueth added eight kills while Symone Faulkner and Courtney Hendricks pounded seven apiece. Sydney DeBoer set a season-high with six blocks and Faulkner tied a career-high with five.
Libero Meghan Evans led BU with 18 digs and Andrea Johnson recorded a season-best three service aces in the win.
Jordan Broady guided the Bruins to a .375 hitting percentage, its second highest this season. The Bruins also held an 11-3 edge in team blocks.
After trailing the majority of the opening set, the Bruins ended the game on a 9-3 run capped off by a DeBoer service ace as they erased a 21-17 deficit to win, 26-24. Benson and Rueth both tallied four kills apiece to a lead a Bruin attack that hit .300.
The Bruins carried the momentum into the second set as they scored 17 of the first 20 points en route to a 25-8 win. BU hit a sizzling .650 including 13 kills without an error.
Leading 8-7, BU used a decisive 13-5 spurt to pull away for a 25-19 third set win. Benson, DeBoer and Hendricks combined for 11 of the team's 14 kills to lead the Bruins.
Bellevue will be idle until they travel to Olathe, Kan. for the MidAmerica Nazarene Tournament on Fri.-Sat., Sept. 21-22.
All-Tournament Team
*Danielle Tombolato - Ashford
Karrah Toby - Ashford
Morgan Martells - Ashford
Jordan Broady - Bellevue
Annie Benson - Bellevue
Amanda Raschke - Clarke
Kendra Martin - Graceland
Lindsay Smith - Hannibal-LaGrange
Lacey Taylor - William Penn
Emily Becker - William Woods
* - Denotes Saints Invitational Most Valuable Player
