BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The eighth-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team opened North Star Athletic Association play Friday night with a hard-fought 3-2 (20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 22-25, 15-11) victory over (RV) Dakota State University at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
With the win, the Bruins improved to 13-2 on the season and 1-0 in the NSAA. BU has now won nine straight matches. DSU dropped to 8-6 overall and 0-1 in league play.
Junior outside hitter Eve Fountain led the Bruins with 21 kills and 25 digs for her team-leading sixth double-double of the year. She also added two service aces and a pair of blocks.
Junior rightside hitter Kealy Kiviniemi finished with a season-high 19 kills, three digs, and two blocks. Junior outside hitter Kenzie Polk was the third Bruin in double figures, collecting 11 kills along with three digs.
Sophomore setter Mila Aiwohi dished out 36 assists and added eight digs. Freshman setter Victoria Runyan recorded the first double-double of her career, finishing with 28 assists and 12 digs.
Senior libero Taylan Keefer (26) and Fountain (25) combined for 51 of the Bruins' 115 digs on the night.
Brooklyn Grage paced the Trojans with 16 kills, six blocks, and four digs. Macey Wathen added 11 kills and three blocks. Madalyn Groft nearly recorded a triple-double, finishing with nine kills, 30 assists, and 19 digs. Hannah Evans led all players with 11 blocks on the night.
The Bruins will host Kansas Wesleyan University at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday (Sept. 21) in a non-conference matchup in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.
Notes:
- The match was Bellevue's first five-setter of the 2024 season.
- Fountain has now recorded six straight matches with double figures in digs
- It marked the first match this season that Fountain recorded 20-or-more kills and digs.
- The nine-match winning streak is the longest since BU's 11-match streak in 2022.
