Bruins knock off Haskell in NAIA Opening Round

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- The No. 22 Bellevue University volleyball team rolled to a 3-0 victory over Haskell Indian Nations University on Saturday afternoon at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center in an NAIA National Tournament Opening Round match.

The match was the 21^st sweep of the season for BU who won by scores of 25-11, 25-19, and 25-12. The Bruins improve to 4-2 all-time in NAIA Opening Round matches since the format was implemented prior for the 2008 season.

Bellevue improves to 31-10 on the season while Haskell wraps up their 2016 campaign with a record of 14-16.

With the win the Bruins advance to the NAIA National Tournament in Sioux City, Iowa for the first time since 2012. Pool play will be held from Tuesday, Nov. 29 through Thursday, Dec. 1 at the Tyson Events Center.

Shayla Scanlan led the Bruins with 11 kills on 16 errorless attacks for a career-high (min. 15 attacks) .688 hitting percentage. Pakalana Helekahi and Mikaylah Gillespie combined to hit .400 as they each recorded seven kills and just one error on the day.

Maddie Squiers directed Bellevue to a .344 hitting percentage as a team with 36 assists to go along with eight digs on the afternoon.

Bellevue out-dug Haskell as a team, 42-36, led by Taylor Holz's 11 digs. Lauren Colpitts added seven and U'i Kepani chipped in five.

Alliyah Richards led the Indians – who were out-hit .344-.084 – with five kills on .444 hitting. Randi Romero led with nine assists and Krista Costa paced Haskell with 15 digs.