Providence sweeps Bruins; BU headed to tiebreaker later tonight

Box Score
Pool Play Schedule/Results

SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- The 12-seeded University of Providence handed the fifth-seeded Bellevue University volleyball team a 3-0 (25-22, 25-23, 25-19) loss to end pool play competition at the NAIA Volleyball National Championship Friday morning in the Tyson Events Center. The loss forces the Bruins into a tiebreaker later tonight to determine the winner of Pool E and who will advance to the championship quarterfinals. All three teams in Pool E (Marian, Bellevue, Providence) ended pool play with 1-1 records. 

The loss snapped the Bruins' 16-match winning streak as BU falls to 30-4 on the season. Providence improves to 27-7 overall with the sweep. 

Eve Fountain led the balanced Bruin attack with 11 kills, nine digs, and three blocks. Haley Fleischman, Savanna Berger, and Sidney Sledge slammed nine kills apiece, and Kealy Kiviniemi chipped in with eight kills. Fleischman hit .391 and added a team-high four blocks. 

Taylan Keefer anchored the BU defense with 21 digs while adding a service ace. 

Mila Aiwohi (24) and Victoria Runyan (16) combined for 40 assists while directing the BU offense to a .182 hitting efficiency. Aiwohi added 13 digs for her ninth double-double of the season. 

Martyna Fiedler paced the Argos with 11 kills on .458 hitting. Cabry Taylor registered 10 kills on 24 errorless swings. Bella Green added nine kills, and Sadie Lott finished with seven kills and 11 digs. Ava Saiers led all players with 24 digs.  

Set 1: Providence 25, Bellevue 22

UP overcame an early three-point deficit, going on an 8-0 run, sparked by back-to-back service aces from Isabelle Cahall, to take a 12-7 lead. Kills by Fountain and Berger drew the Bruins to within three points at 18-15. A 4-1 run capped by a kill from Kenzie Polk made it a one-point contest at 23-22, forcing the Argos to use their second timeout of the opening frame. Providence garnered the 25-22 first-set win following a kill by Franny Martins and a BU attacking error. 

Fountain led BU in the opening set with four kills. Fleishman, Kiviniemi, and Berger all produced three kills in the first frame.  

Set 2: Providence 25, Bellevue 23

After the Argos raced out to a 6-2 lead in the second, Bellevue battled back with a 5-1 run highlighted by kills from Fleischman, Fountain, Sledge, and Berger to knot the contest at 7-all. Neither team led by more than two points for the remainder of the set as the two teams battled back and forth. Tied at 23, consecutive kills by Taylor and Fiedler gave the Argos the second stanza, 25-23. 

Fountain continued her strong play in the second, pounding six kills and adding five digs.  

Set 3: Providence 25, Bellevue 19

Trailing 12-10, the Argos used a 9-0 run fueled by kills from Green and Fiedler and a pair of service aces by Lott to gain a 19-12 advantage. The Bruins responded with a 5-0 run ignited by kills from Sledge and Fleischman and a service ace by Raeanne Kimoto to pull BU to within two points at 19-17. Providence closed the match on a 6-2 run to earn the sweep with the 25-19 win.  

Up Next: 

Following the 7:30 p.m. session tonight, the Bruins will battle Marian University in a tiebreaker set to 25. The winner of that match will take on Providence in a set to 25 to determine the Pool E winner and who will advance to the quarterfinals of the NAIA National Championship.