BU opens NSAA play with sweep over Saints

Box Score

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Sophomore Shayla Scanlan and junior Mikaylah Gillespie combined for 16 kills to lead the 19th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-12, 25-20, 25-15) sweep over Presentation College Friday night in the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) opener for both teams. 

The Bruins (12-5, 1-0 NSAA) have now won nine of their last 10 matches. The victory also marked the 10th-straight conference-opening win for Bellevue. Presentation fell to 3-10 overall and 0-1 in the league play. 

Scanlan finished with eight kills on 10 errorless swings while playing in just the first two sets. Gillespie collected eight kills on .375 hitting and added three blocks. 

Freshman Maddie Squiers directed the BU offense to a .305 hitting percentage, dishing out 36 assists while adding six kills, four digs and three service aces. 

Junior Taylor Holz anchored the Bruin defense, finishing with 12 digs, as BU held a 47-31 advantage in total digs. 

The Saints were led by Maria Nightingales's eight kills. Mallori Rabenberg notched a match-high 15 digs. 

The Bruins will host Waldorf University in NSAA action on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m. in the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.