Kerns, Kiviniemi lead BU in sweep over Blue Hawks

Box Score
NSAA Standings

DICKINSON, N.D. -- Allie Kerns and Kealy Kiviniemi combined for 22 kills and both hit over .400 in leading the 20th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team to a 3-0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-20) sweep at Dickinson State University Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at Scott Gymnasium. 

With the win, the Bruins improved to 20-8 on the season and 6-4 in the NSAA. DSU dropped to 1-20 overall and 1-8 in league play. 

Kerns pounded 12 kills on .440 hitting while adding three digs and two blocks. Kiviniemi finished with 10 kills and hit .474 with just one error in 19 attempts. Sidney Sledge and Eve Fountain finished with five kills apiece. 

McKenzie Moser led all players with 14 kills while adding seven digs. 

Taylan Keefer (13) and Fountain (11) combined for 24 digs as BU limited the Blue Hawks to a .184 hitting percentage. 

Jada Nunn (18) and Mila Aiwohi (18) combined for 36 assists while directing the Bruin offense to a .308 attacking efficiency.  

Kerns (5) and Kiviniemi (4) combined for nine first-set kills on 12 errorless swings as BU earned the 25-18 victory in the opening set. BU outhit the BlueHawks .367 to .211 in the opening frame. The Bruins closed the set on a 9-3 run. 

The Bruins used a 10-3 run midway through the second set while earning the 13-point victory. BU cooled off, hitting .147 in the second frame, but the Bruin defense limited the BlueHawks to a .057 attacking clip. 

After building an early five-point advantage in the third stanza, DSU battled back and made it a two-point contest at 15-13 following a kill by Brooklyn Wyllie. The Bruins responded by scoring three straight points and the Blue Hawks never got closer than three points the remainder of the contest as BU earned the sweep with the 25-20 victory.  

Up Next:

The Bruins will head to Valley City, N.D. on Saturday for an 11 a.m. contest at (RV) Valley City State University.