Bruins split to go 3-1 at Tourney

LIVONIA, Mich. -- The 24^th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team split a pair of matches on Saturday on Day Two of the Julie Martin Memorial Tournament, hosted by Madonna University.

Bellevue defeated Rochester 3-0 but fell to Olivet Nazarene 3-1 to complete a 3-1 weekend at the event.

Records:

#24 Bellevue: 9-4
Rochester: 1-10
Olivet Nazarene: 5-8

#24 Bellevue 3, Rochester 0 (25-19, 25-20, 25-14)

Bellevue dominated statistically, out-hitting Rochester .231-.019 and out-digging the Warriors 53-41.

Sierra Athen recorded yet another double-double, her seventh of the year, finishing the match with 10 kills (.318 hitting) and 14 digs.

Andrea Carson led the hitting effort with 12 kills (.133) while being supported by Athen, Shayla Scanlan (7 kills, .235 hitting) and Rosa Reed-Bouley (5 kills, .300 hitting).

Bruin setter Olivia Galas dished out 38 assists to go along with her six digs and four kills (.500 hitting).

Defensively, Madi Evans and Fabiola Aviles added 13 and 11 digs, respectively, to support Athen's 14.

Laura Wilson was the lone Warrior to record double-digit kills, finishing the match with 10 (.088 hitting) while the rest of the club combined to hit just (-).014.

Kaitlyn Williams totaled 13 digs to lead Rochester.

Olivet Nazarene 3, #24 Bellevue 1 (25-22, 22-25, 25-21, 25-21)

ONU and Bellevue split the first two set before the Tigers posted consecutive 25-21 wins to secure the match victory.

Coree Lipovsky led three Bruins in double-figures with 14 kills (.375 hitting). Andrea Carson finished with 12 kills on .233 hitting and Sierra Athen added 10 on a neutralized performance.

BU's Olivia Galas secured her fifth double-double of the year with a 44-assist, 11-dig performance. Madi Evans led the defense with 18 digs.

Olivet Nazarene edged the Bruins .180-.179 and service aces (8-3) in hitting while BU out-dug (65-63) and out-blocked (8-7) the Tigers.

Micki Quackenbush (12 kills, .189 hitting), Lizzie Jackson (10 kills, .269 hitting), and Kassidy Heeringa (9 kills, .074 hitting) led the ONU attack while Sylvia Daun (.042) and Becca Bell (.417) each turned in seven-kill performances.

Alex Ewalt and Quackenbush anchored the defense finishing with 18 and 16 digs, respectively. Bell and Rachel Newport each totaled four blocks.

The setting duo of Janelle Skinner (23) and Kayleigh Kastelein (20) combined for 43 assists.

Up Next:

Bellevue opens North Star Athletic Association play on Wednesday, Sept. 12 when they venture to Madison, S.D. for a match against Dakota State University. First serve is set for 7 p.m.

Notes:

• At least one Bellevue player has recorded a double-double in each of the Bruins' last six matches.
• Looking ahead to the match at Dakota State, BU is 3-0 all-time in NSAA-openers.