LA CROSSE, Wisc. - The Bellevue University volleyball team dropped a pair of matches on day one of the Viterbo University Tournament on Friday. The Bruins dropped their opening match to Ashford University, 3-1, before falling to Viterbo University, 3-0, in the nightcap. Following the sweep, BU now rests at 0-11 on the season.
Match One: Ashford 3, Bellevue 1 (25-14, 22-25, 25-16, 25-23)
Sophomore LaJaida Even (Waverly, Iowa) led all players with 14 kills but it wasn't enough as Bellevue dropped a hard-fought match, 3-1, to Ashford in their first match at the Viterbo University Tournament.
Ashford took the first set by a convincing 25-14 score but Bellevue would rally in the second set as they outscored the Saints 10-5 to open the set to force Ashford to take a timeout. The timeout seemed to work as Ashford came out of the break to score a 7-2 run before Bellevue regrouped to take the set by a count of 25-22.
The third set started as a back and forth affair which, ultimately, saw the Saints come out on top by a 25-16 margin. Ashford was then able to close out the match with a narrow 25-23 victory in the fourth and final set to claim the 3-1 victory.
Junior Beth Walker (Dubuque, Iowa) recorded a match-high 42 assists while notching 14 digs for her fifth straight double-double. Junior Symone Faulkner (Denver, Colo.) finished with 13 kills and attacked at .314 while freshman Gracie Myers (Treynor, Iowa) added 12 kills and attacked at a team-best .476 clip.
Ashford held a 56-53 edge in digs and a 4-2 advantage in blocks. The Saints hit .280 compared to .163 for the Bruins.
Match Two: (15) Viterbo 3, Bellevue 0 (29-27, 25-14, 25-20)
Bellevue pushed the opening set to a tiebreaker but that would be as close as they would get to taking a set as the Bruins dropped a 3-0 decision to Viterbo University in their second match of the Viterbo University Tournament.
The opening set stayed close throughout with Bellevue even taking a late 25-24 lead, but was ultimately won by the V-Hawks 29-27 after BU was unable to convert on the set point opportunity.
Viterbo jumped out to a large 11-2 advantage to open the second set and never looked back as they headed to a 25-14 victory to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
BU started the third set strong by staking claim to an early 7-2 lead but a 10-4 run by Viterbo gave the V-Hawks a 12-11 lead. However, Viterbo held on for a 25-20 victory and a 3-0 match victory.
Viterbo, ranked 15th in the preseason poll, was out-dug by Bellevue 41-36 but attacked at a .202 rate compared to .154 for the Bruins. Faulkner had 15 kills and attacked at .458 for BU while Beth Walker added 31 assists but saw her streak of double-doubles come to a halt at five.
Bellevue will continue their play at the Viterbo University Tournament tomorrow when they take on Campbellsville University and Dakota Wesleyan University at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm, respectively.
