CLINTON, Iowa -- After the Bruins won the first two games, Ashford University stunned the Bellevue University volleyball team by taking the final three sets, 18-25, 20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 15-6 Saturday morning at Ashford Saints Invitational at Kehl Arena.
The loss snapped BU's four-game winning streak as they fell to 13-5 while the Saints improved to 9-5 overall.
The Bruins will conclude tournament action this afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. match scheduled against Clarke University.
AU recorded nine of its 12 total team blocks in the final three sets to propel them to the comeback win.
Annie Benson recorded a match-high 17 kills to go along with nine digs to pace the Bruin offense. Courtney Hendricks (13), Caitlyn Rueth (12) and Sydney DeBoer (11) each tallied double-figure kills. DeBoer also added five block assists which tied a season-high.
Jordan Broady collected her team-leading seventh double-double of the season, collecting 54 assists, 10 digs and five kills.
Meghan Evans paced the BU defense with a team-high 23 digs and the Bruins' only service ace of the match.
The Bruins hit .452 with 18 kills and only four errors in the first game. The duo of Benson and Hendricks led the way for BU, combining for 11 kills and hitting .600.
Rueth connected on six of her seven kill attempts and AU was plagued by seven hitting errors and three service erorrs as the BU pulled out a 25-20 win in the second set.
BU played from behind the entire third set as AU won, 25-18. The Bruins had nine errors and the Saints tallied three total blocks.
AU registered three blocks and BU had 10 hitting errors and three service errors as the Saints took the fourth set 25-18 to force a fifth and deciding game. Danielle Tombolato led AU with six kills and two block assists.
The Saints carried their momentum into the fifth set, winning 15-6, and holding BU to -.050 hitting.
BU held a 61-52 edge in kills, but committed nine more hitting errors. The Saints also recorded seven service aces to BU's one.
