UTB sweeps Bruins in opening pool play match

Box Score

SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Tenth-ranked University of Texas at Brownsville defeated No. 16 Bellevue University 3-0 (25-22, 25-17, 25-20) in the Bruins' opening pool play match Tuesday night at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship at the Tyson Event Center.

With the loss, Bellevue fell to 29-8 on the season while the Scorpions improved to 32-1 overall.

Junior Jaclyn Thorson was the lone Bruin in double figures with 10 kills. Senior Rachel Muller added eight kills and three digs in the loss.

Defensively, Bellevue was led by junior Katy Gregory's 17 digs.

The Bruins were plagued by 19 hitting errors in the match as Bellevue hit just .073. UTB hit .307 and was led by Arlene Ferreira's 15 kills.

The first set featured 11 ties and seven lead changes. With the scored knotted at 20, the Scorpions went on a 5-2 run capped by two Ferreira kills to take the opening frame, 25-22.

The Bruins battled back from a 13-9 deficit in the second set, going on a 5-1 spurt to close to within one at 15-14. Highlighted by five kills from Ferreira down the stretch, UTB pulled away for the 25-17 win.

Bellevue took an early 2-0 lead in the third set before the Scorpions went on an 8-1 run to build a five-point advantage at 8-3. UTB led by seven at 12-5 before the Bruins battled back, scoring eight of the next 10 points highlighted by three Thorson kills to get to within one at 14-13. That is as close as BU would get as the Scorpions closed out the match with a four-point run, winning 25-20.

The Bruins continue pool play action on Wednesday with a 5:45 p.m. match against fourth-ranked Concordia (Calif.) University.