LOUISVILLE, Ky.—For the second year in a row, the Bellarmine Knights volleyball team pulled off an upset of a top 15 team on the Knights Hall floor. Unfortunately, for the Lewis Flyers, they were the upset victims both times.
On Saturday afternoon, the Knights turned in another solid effort and raced out to a 2-0 lead before pulling off the upset of the 15th-ranked Flyers 3-1 (25-22, 25-21, 21-25, 25-17). Last season, Bellarmine eked out a 5-set victory over Lewis when they were ranked No. 1 in the country.
Probably the most important facet to today's upset was the lift it gave the Knights in the GLVC standings. Having started just 1-4 in league play, Bellarmine has now climbed to an even 6-6 and eighth place in the league, thanks in large part to a perfect 3-0 week. Prior to knocking off the Flyers, Bellarmine posted "W"s over Southern Indiana and Indianapolis this week.
In today's match, the Bellarmine front row picked up where they left off after Friday's tilt against UIndy. The Knights tied a season-high with nine team blocks against the Greyhounds and surpassed that mark by two in today's contest.
Abbie Oetting led the Bellarmine block party with six assisted blocks and a solo rejection with
Bailey Roszman helping on four and Izzie Salemeh and
Katie Adams assisting on three blocks each.
Behind the blockers, Bellarmine libero
Jordyn Kuchenbrod came up with 31 digs. Meanwhile,
Jacquie Hornung and
Kristen O'Toole each posted double-doubles. O'Toole, a sophomore setter, registered 10 digs and 29 assists, and Hornung, a junior outside hitter, paced the Knights with 15 kills while adding 10 digs. Bellarmine had three players reach double digits in kills with Adams notching 13 and freshman
Julia Dailey adding 11.
The Knights overcame a monster performance from Elizabeth Hyland of the Flyers. The senior outside hitter posted a career-high 25 kills while adding 18 digs.
Bellarmine outhit the Flyers .211 to .189 as the Knights came up with five of their 11 blocks in the fourth set to hold Lewis to an attack percentage of just .059 in the final frame.
The win, which was Bellarmine's 23rd in its last 25 home games, ups the Bellarmine season mark to 12-8. Meanwhile, the Flyers fall for just the fifth time this season to move to 14-5, 7-3 GLVC.
Next action for the Knights will come in the Midwest Region Crossover tournament on Friday and Saturday. Pairings have not yet been released.
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