Bellevue sweeps Baker in home-opener

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Sierra Athen and Shayla Scanlan combined for 27 kills as the No. 21 Bellevue University volleyball team defeated Baker University 3-0 on Thursday evening at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center to kick off the 2018 GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic in a match that doubled as the Bruins' home-opener.

Bellevue defeated the Wildcats by scores of 25-15, 25-20, 25-17 to improve to 3-2 on the season. Baker fell to 1-5 with their fifth-straight loss.

#21 Bellevue 3, Baker 0 (25-15, 25-20, 25-17)

Bellevue came out swinging in the first set, hitting .467 to Baker's .161. BU raced out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set and kept the Wildcats at arms' length until an 8-3 spurt put the Bruins up 23-13.

The second set was played tighter in the early going as Baker stayed within three points – and even tied the score at 10-10 – until a 4-0 run by BU put the Bruins up 14-10. However, Bellevue was unable to secure any additional cushion as their lead was cut to 16-15 and, later, 22-20 before winning three-straight points to win the set. The hitting was more tepid and even in the second set with Baker out-hitting the Bruins .133-.115.

BU used a script similar to the first set in the third as they races out to 4-1 and 6-2 leads without letting Baker get closer than three points before going up 17-8 after a 9-3 run.

Sierra Athen recorded a double-double – 17 kills on .324 hitting, 11 digs – to lead the Bruins and Shayla Scanlan added 10 kills on .526 hitting to go along with three blocks. Andrea Carson supported the attack with five kills on .267 hitting.

Olivia Galas directed the offense to a .307 hitting effort with 39 assists. BU out-hit Baker .307-.101 in the match.

Defensively, Madi Evans led Bellevue with 21 digs as the Bruins out-dug Baker 55-37 on the evening.

Makaila Garcia paced Baker with seven kills but did so on just .045 hitting. Olivia Brees (6 kills, .176 hitting), Ashley Sparks (5, .000), Sophie Heldenbrand (4, .308), and Alexis Montana (4, .176) also contributed offensively.

Megan Milroy dished out 12 assists for the Wildcats and Ali Clark led the defense with nine digs.

Up Next:

Bellevue continues play in the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic tomorrow evening with a 5 p.m. first serve against York College at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center.