Bruins split on Day 2 of Clarke Tournament

Ashford Box Score
Mt. Mercy Box Score

DUBUQUE, Iowa -- The Bellevue University volleyball team split on the second day of competition at the Clarke University Tournament, losing 3-1 to Ashford University, before rebounding with a five-set come-from-behind victory over Mt. Mercy College.

The Bruins (15-10) will host Peru State College on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. The match has been designated as the Dig Pink Rally match and all proceeds will benefit breast cancer awareness and research.

Ashford 3, Bellevue 1

The Bruins were plagued by 30 hitting errors and hit just .095 as Ashford secured a 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-21) win in the opener.

Sophomore Rachel Wald led Bellevue with 16 kills, but she committed 12 errors and hit .082 for the match. Sophomore Mikaylah Gillespie added 12 kills on .250 hitting, while adding four blocks.

Senior Beth Walker dished out 42 assists and added seven digs and a pair of kills in the loss.

Sophomore Taylor Holz anchored the BU defense with a season-high 30 digs.

Ashford was led by junior outside hitter Pakalana Helekahi who pounded a match-high 20 kills on .292 hitting while adding 12 digs and three service aces.

The Saints improved to 16-10 on the season with the win.

Bellevue 3, Mt. Mercy 2

Bellevue overcame a 2-1 deficit to survive with a 3-2 (23-25, 25-20, 16-25, 25-23, 15-7) win over Mt. Mercy College in the tournament finale.

Walker recorded a rare triple-double, finishing with 10 kills, 43 assists, and 13 digs.

Offensively, the Bruins were paced by Wald and freshman Shayla Scanlan, who combined for 31 kills in the win.

Wald collected 16 kills, five digs, two blocks and a service ace. Scanlan tallied 15 kills on .364 hitting, while adding seven blocks.

Freshman Lauren Colpitts came up big, helping change the momentum of the match in the final two sets. Colpitts, who entered the match midway through the fourth set, finished with five kills on six swings, hitting a sizzling .833, while tacking on a pair of digs.

Defensively, five Bruins registered double-figure kill totals, led by freshman Erin Warren's 16 digs. 

The Bruins hit .187 in the match, while limiting the Mustangs to .095 hitting. BU held a 19-13 edge in total blocks.

Walker's lone other triple-double came earlier this season, on Sept. 11 against Ottawa.

Mt. Mercy was led by Cori Peterzalek's 14  kills, 12 digs and three service aces. Following the loss, the Mustangs are now 18-9 on the season.

All-Tournament Team:

Pakalana Helekahi, Ashford

Beth Walker, Bellevue

Rachel Hunt, Clarke

Megan Kolness, Mayville State

Olivia Coe, Mt. Mercy

Autumn Johnson, Valley City State

Amelia Grahn, Viterbo

Natalie Geidel, Viterbo

Natalie Geidel, Viterbo