LOUISVILLE, Ky.— The Bellarmine Knights were rolling along looking as if they were going to take a 2-0 lead, but the visiting Central Arkansas Sugar Bears caught fire in the late stages of the second set and turned the tables to grab not only a game two victory but maintained the positive momentum to post a 3-1 match win in ASUN Conference volleyball action in Knights Hall on Friday night.
 
Bellarmine looked like a well-oiled machine in the first set, hitting at a .387 clip and committing just two attack errors, in notching a 25-16 win.
 
In the second set, the Knights weren't as sharp but still managed to build a 20-16 advantage. However, that's the point when suddenly everything started clicking for Central Arkansas, and the Sugar Bears went on a 9-0 run to square the match 1-1.
 
While Bellarmine regained some of its form in the third frame, the Knights couldn't slow the UCA offense, which registered 17 kills with just two attack errors in hitting .469 and claiming a 25-21 victory. 
 
In the fourth, neither team found much rhythm as Central Arkansas simply outlasted the Knights 25-20 to secure the match.
 
The loss overshadowed solid performances by Bellarmine Jayme Scott and Anna Lococo.  Scott rang up 15 kills while hitting .345 and recorded her 11th double-double of the season by adding 10 digs.  Lococo, meanwhile, fell just one dig short of her career high by chalking up 24 on the night.
 
The Sugar Bears got 14 kills from Mackenzie Vernon, and Allison Halloway notched five blocks to help UCA to an 8-4 edge in team blocks.
 
The loss drops Bellarmine to 6-20, 2-12 ASUN while Central Arkansas improves to 6-16, 4-9 ASUN.
 
The Knights close their 2021 home season tomorrow with a 4 p.m. match against Lipscomb.  Bellarmine will honor seniors Julia Dailey, Sam Rickert, Bailey Roszman, Chrysanthi Stamatiou, and Abbie Stefanon with a pregame ceremony.
 
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