LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University volleyball team fought to the end of every set but was unable to overcome a tough North Florida team, falling 3-0 by scores of 26-28, 22-25, 26-28 on Friday night in Knights Hall.
 
With the loss, Bellarmine moves to 6-13 on the season, 3-6 in ASUN conference play while the win improves North Florida's record to 8-16 overall and 5-4 in league play.
 
The Knights came out ready to play in the first, jumping out to a 5-1 lead. BU continued to maintain control through the middle of the set, holding on to a 13-9 lead before a North Florida run cut the lead to one at 15-14 entering the media timeout. The Knights continued to lead late but another push from the Ospreys did the job as they tied the set 24-24 before going on to a 28-26 win. Bellarmine once again took the first lead in the second, going up 2-0. The lead would not last however as UNF tied things 3-3. From there the game was back-and-forth as the teams battled for position. The Ospreys took a small two-point lead into the media timeout, up 15-13 before ripping off a six-point run to bust open the stanza at 21-15. Bellarmine continued to play hard, getting back within two at 23-21 but ultimately fell 25-22. In the third set, reigning ASUN Setter of the Week Kylie Van Hoy went down with in an injury, causing the Knights to use a timeout just one point into the stanza. UNF showed no mercy following the play, pouncing for a 6-1 advantage to force BU to use its second and final timeout. Though down, Bellarmine did not give up, fighting all the way back to even the score at 9-9. Continuing the effort, the Knights jumped ahead to a 14-10 lead after stringing together four consecutive points. BU continued to push the pace as the Knights maintained control with a 17-12 lead. North Florida would not go down without a fight however, pushing its way back into the set, using a five-point run to take a 23-22 lead late in game. The Knight continued to fight, pushing the set into extra points, but the rally would ultimately come up short as they fell 26-28.
 
Sophomore Natalie Bland led the Knights offensively with 13 kills, hitting .290 in the match with four digs, an assist and an ace. Fifth-year senior Addison Foote joined her in the double-digit club with 11 kills, adding an assist, a dig and a block. Van Hoy registered 23 assists, seven digs and three kills before her early exit. Grad student Mara Perry and freshman Payton Parsons both notched double-digit digs, tallying 16 and 13 respectively. Perry added four assists while Parsons contributed six assists along with an ace. Sophomore Erika Smith led the charge at the net with four total blocks, including a career-high tying three solos.
 
Up next, the Bellarmine will wrap up its short two-match homestand with a bout against Jacksonville on Saturday, October 26 at 1 p.m. in its annual Dig Pink Breast Cancer Awareness match.
 
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