LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Although the series history is short, it should come as no surprise that Bellarmine and North Alabama went five sets in Friday's ASUN Conference match.  As with both of last season's meetings with UNA, the Knights prevailed in five sets in Bellarmine's ASUN home opener tonight in Knights Hall. 
 
The visitors grabbed a victory in the first set after breaking an 18-18 deadlock with a 5-0 run.  Although Bellarmine fought back to close within a point, the Lions held on for 25-23 victory.
 
The Knights responded by taking the next two games (25-21, 25-18), but the Lions were able to repel a Bellarmine fourth-set comeback and tie the match with a 25-23 win.
 
In the decisive fifth, the Knights never trailed after Seville Gates hammered home a kill after a lengthy rally on the set's first point.  The Lions did have the score tied at 2-2 when the Knights got the separation they needed with a 3-0 spurt capped by a Jayme Scott kill that came on the heels of an incredible dig by Bellarmine libero Anna Lococo.
 
From there, the closest UNA could get was two points as Abbie Stefanon came up big in the late stages with a pair of kills and a solo block.  Match point was earned on a block by Bailey Roszman and Emily Arnold as Bellarmine closed out the Lions 15-8.
 
An indication of how close the match was, both teams finished with 61 kills and nine service aces.  The Knights were able to swing the match in their favor by outhitting the Lions .253 to .209. 
 
Six different players (three from each team) reached double digits in kills with Scott totaling 17 to lead all hitters.  She added 10 digs for her eighth double-double of the year.  Gates tallied 13 kills for Knights and Bailey Venard finished with 12.
 
For UNA, Mattrice Harris had a big night with 15 kills on just 23 swings to finish with a .522 attack percentage.
 
Both setters also enjoyed big assist totals with Breylee Linder handing out 52 for UNA and Bellarmine's Arnold recording 50, the third time this season she has had 50 or more.
 
Defensively for the Knights, Lococo finished with a match-high 19 digs while Roszman and Stefanon were the team block leaders with four and three respectively.
 
Bellarmine improves to 5-10 overall and 1-3 in league play.  North Alabama falls to 6-11, 0-4 ASUN.
 
The Knights return to action tomorrow, facing new ASUN member Jacksonville State at 3 p.m.  The Gamecocks swept Eastern Kentucky in their match today to improve to 13-4, 3-1 ASUN.