BOONE, N.C.—The Bellarmine volleyball team wrapped up the Mountaineer Classic by defeating host Appalachian State and dropping a four-setter to the Charlotte 49ers on Saturday afternoon in the Holmes Convocation Center.
 
The Knights started their day by posting a thrilling five-set victory over the Mountaineers that was capped off by a Bellarmine 4-0 run to win the decisive fifth set 16-14.  Bellarmine had bolted out to a 5-0 lead in the last frame only to see the host team claw back within striking distance then claim a two-point lead with a 5-0 run of their own. The host Mountaineers had two match points, but the Knights got a timely block from Bailey Roszman and Ashley Price, then benefited from a Mountaineer attack error to knot the score at 14-all.  Jayme Scott recorded the final two points for Bellarmine with her 18th and 19th kills of the match.
 
In addition to coming up big at a crucial moment, Roszman made her presence felt in the middle throughout the match on both offense and defense.  She hammered home 13 kills on just 19 swings for a .579 hitting percentage and recorded six blocks on the day with three of those being of the solo variety.  Scott also was productive on both sides of the net. Her 19 kills led all hitters, and she accounted for 15 digs on defense.
 
The Knights had plenty of other outstanding performances in the win over Appalachian State.  Bailey Venard saw her first action of the year and made an impact with nine kills in just three sets while swinging at a .533 clip.  Price notched double-digit kills with 11 and added three service aces while setter Emily Arnold handed out a season-high 50 assists.  Digs leaders were Anna Lococo with 18 and Emily Ernst with 17.
 
Bellarmine then had the misfortune of having to turnaround and play a well-rested Charlotte team that came in 6-3 on the season. 
 
The 49ers posted relatively easy victories in the first two sets (25-16, 25-14), but the Knights refused to go quietly and pulled out a 26-24 win in game number three.  Charlotte claimed the match with a 25-17 victory in the fourth set.
 
One of the top blocking teams in the nation coming into the Mountaineer Classic, the 49ers put that talent on display against the Knights holding a 15-4 edge in team blocks.  The team blocking also helped the Conference USA squad to a significant advantage in attack percentage, as the Knights hit just .096 while Charlotte posted a .293 attack percentage.
 
Again in the second match of the day, Scott was the Bellarmine kills leader, tying Charlotte's Sydney Rowan and Emani Foster with 15.  Venard followed up her solid effort against Appalachian State by matching her kills total with nine against the 49ers.  Lococo had another good performance, claiming match-high honors with 20 digs.
 
Bellarmine now moves on the University of Virginia's tourney on Sept. 17 and 18.  The Knights will open with host Cavaliers before meeting Fairleigh Dickinson and Georgetown University.