CONWAY, Ar. – The Bellarmine University volleyball team began its first ASUN road trip of the season at Central Arkansas, taking a 3-1 loss on Friday night at the Prince Center.
 
With the loss, Bellarmine moves to 4-9 on the year, 1-2 in conference play. With the win, Central Arkansas improves to 6-8 overall, 3-0 in league play.
 
The Sugar Bears shot out of the gate, quickly taking the first two sets 25-16 and 25-18, respectively. Bellarmine answered following the break, taking set three 25-21 before dropping the fourth and final set 25-18.
 
Sophomore Natalie Bland once again led the Knights, tallying her third double-double in four matches and her fifth consecutive match with double-digit kills with her 12 kills and 11 digs. Senior Anna Purichia was the most effective hitter for the Knights, recording nine kills on 21 swings for a .333 hitting percentage, adding two digs and an assist. Freshman Payton Parson tallied 13 digs on the night. Junior Kyle Van Hoy also turned in a double-double for the Knights, her team-leading sixth of the season, with 23 assists and 10 digs, also contributing five kills and an ace.
 
Set 1
After an early 2-2 tie, Central Arkansas stepped on the gas and took a quick lead, using two separate 4-0 runs to go up 14-6. The Knights tried to get back into it, putting together a 3-0 run of their own to get within nine, down 20-11. UCA continued to maintain control despite another late 3-0 rally by the Knights, eventually winning the first set 25-16.
 
Set 2
Set two was a back-and-forth slug fest from the get-go. Bellarmine started with a mere one-point lead that didn't last as neither team was able to gain an edge. With the score still even at 12-12, the Sugar Bears went on a 3-1 run, taking a 15-13 lead into the media timeout. Nothing changed following the break as the team's continued to trade points. Tied once again at 16-16, Central Arkansas once again went on a run, this time a seven-point blitz, to break the game open 23-16. Bellarmine claimed a couple more points toward the end before dropping the set 25-18.
 
Set 3
The Knights came out ready for a fight in the third set, jumping out to an early 5-2 lead. Central Arkansas adjusted and quickly evened the score at 5-5. From there, the team's battled for position, trading points back-and-forth. Down 12-10, the Knights turned up the heat again, using a 3-0 and 2-1 run to retake the lead 15-13 as they entered the media timeout. Bellarmine took three of the first four points out of the break to extend the lead to four, up 18-14. After scoring another point, UCA called its first timeout, down 19-15 late in the set. The Sugar Bears used the break to their advantage, going on a 3-0 run to get back within two as Bellarmine led 22-20 but the rally came too late as the Knights were able to hang on for the 25-21 win.
 
 Set 4
Bellarmine once again jumped in front early, taking a 4-2 lead to start the set. Central Arkansas rallied to even the score at 5-5 before the exchange of points began again. Even at 8-8, the Sugar Bears mounted a 3-0 run to take a slight edge at 11-8 before climbing to a five-point lead, up 15-10, entering the media timeout. Bellarmine took two of the first three points out of the break to stay in the set, down 16-12, but a 3-1 UCA run soon followed to put the Knights down six at 19-16 as they called their first timeout. Bellarmine scored the first point out of the break before Central Arkansas took the next two, forcing the Knights to call their final timeout. This time the break worked in Bellarmine's favor as they rallied for a 3-0 run, getting back within four, down 21-17 as the Sugar Bears called their first timeout. Refocused, Central Arkansas came out of the break ready for the final blow, going on a 4-1 run to close out the set 25-18 for a 3-1 match victory.
 
Up next, Bellarmine will conclude its first ASUN road trip in Florence, Al., taking on North Alabama on Sunday, October 6^th at 2 p.m. ET.
 
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