LOUISVILLE, Ky.—After a successful opening to its 2020-21 season with a win over Mercer this past Sunday, the Bellarmine Knights volleyball team hopes to have the same good fortune when it makes its home debut this weekend against a pair of BIG EAST members.
 
On Saturday at 1 p.m. the Knights take on Xavier as Knights Hall will see its first volleyball action since the fall of 2019.  Bellarmine is back in action at home on Sunday at 3 p.m. when the Knights entertain Butler.
 
The Xavier match will hold special meaning for Coach Jenni Gzebin.  Not only will the contest represent Bellarmine's first D1 home game, but it comes against Grzebin's alma mater.  The Bellarmine head coach was a standout right-side hitter for the Xavier Musketeers as a collegian and was named to the Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team in both her junior and senior seasons.
 
Personal history notwithstanding, Grzebin's Knights are looking to pick up victory number two after splitting with Mercer and Western Kentucky on Sunday. 
 
In Bellarmine's first two matches, Hannah Brown was the offensive leader, racking up 18 kills and hitting .333.  Junior Sam Rickert was the primary setter, handing out 55 of BU's 64 assists in the first two matches. 
 
Defensively, the Knights were led by senior libero Karleigh Wilson's 24 digs and senior middle Abbie Oetting's four blocks during the opening weekend.
 
Xavier is making its season debut against the Knights.  The Musketeers (11-17 a year ago) return 10 letterwinners from last season, and they look to be well-stocked on the offensive side of the net where they return the top seven leaders in kills as well as their top setter.  Defensively, Xavier lost its dig leader to graduation, but Jayda Carlton returns after leading the BIG EAST in blocks per set (1.23) while ranking 51st in the NCAA. The junior middle blocker also led the team in hitting percentage (.266), while ranking 11th in the BIG EAST.
 
On Sunday, the Knights welcome a Butler team that went 14-16 a year ago.  The Bulldogs have a young team featuring seven freshmen, six sophomores, three juniors and not a single senior.  However, they do welcome back preseason All-BIG EAST middle Melody Davidson, who led the league in total blocks and ranked 46th in the nation with 134 last season.
 
The Bulldogs will have two matches in the books by the time Sunday rolls around with Butler scheduled to open the season on Friday against Valparaiso and Loyola (Ill.).
 
With COVID protocols in place, only 265 fans will be allowed to attend games in person at Knights Hall this year. Tickets will be sold on day of game only to eliminate "no shows." Ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for children (17 and under).
 
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