CLARKSVILLE, Tn. – The Bellarmine University volleyball team, urged by inspired efforts all across the court, suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss at Austin Peay on Saturday night.
 
After dropping the first set 19-25, the Knights rallied to take the next two sets, winning the second 25-19 and the third 28-26. The fourth set saw BU with a late lead, but a final rally by the Governors upended Bellarmine and forced a fifth set after a 25-17 loss. The Knights continued to play hard in the fifth but were unable to complete the win, falling 12-15.
 
With the loss, Bellarmine moves to 6-16 on the year and 3-9 in ASUN action while the win improves Austin Peay to 2-22 this season, 1-11 in conference play.
 
The Knights jumped in front early in the first, taking a 5-2 lead. Bellarmine maintained control until Austin Peay evened the score 10-10. BU reclaimed the lead shortly after, entering the media timeout up 15-12. Out of the break, the Governors continued to push, tying the score again at 17-17 before turning in a 7-1 run to close out a 25-19 win in the opening set. APSU used the momentum from the win to start things in the second, taking an early 4-1 lead. The Knights used a pair of 5-0 runs to jump ahead 16-11 and force a timeout. From there, BU was able to maintain control and eventually finish of the set with a 25-19 win. The third set was tightly contested from the start as neither team could find an edge. With the stanza tied 6-6, Bellarmine went on the offensive and rattled off four straight points to take a 10-6 lead and force a timeout. Out of the break, BU continued to push the pace, scoring three of the first four points. The Knights maintained control late in the set, but a 3-0 run by Austin Peay brought the Govs back within one as Bellarmine clung to a 19-18 lead. After a timeout, Bellarmine extended its lead back to three, up 21-18, but APSU wouldn't go away, tying the game 23-23. The teams traded points back-and-forth from there, fighting for position. Bellarmine was finally able to pull away with back-to-back points after a 26-26 tie to secure the set 28-26. In the fourth, Austin Peay once again came out firing, taking a 5-1 lead. Bellarmine didn't stay down long however, using a five-point run to tie the score at 7-7. The Governors answered with a run of their own, retaking the lead 10-7. Austin Peay continued to control the stanza until Bellarmine evened the score 14-14 before winning the race to 15. From there, the Knights took control, pushing their lead to three at 20-17. BU maintained its lead late in the set, holding on to a 24-20 lead as Austin Peay called a timeout. The break was fruitful for the Governors as they came out and turned the set on its head with a 5-0 run around both of Bellarmine's timeouts to vault into the lead, 25-24. The Knights finally ended the run, tying the score 25-25, but the damage was done as the Governors scored the final two points to earn a 27-25 win, even the match 2-2 and force a fifth set. With momentum on its side, Austin Peay cruised ahead 3-0 to start the fifth. BU was unfazed however and answered with five consecutive points to jump ahead 5-3. From there, the teams traded points back-and-forth as they gave full effort. Austin Peay found an edge late and used a 4-1 run to take control 12-9. Bellarmine fought to stay in the set, getting back within two at 13-11, but the Governors would not be denied, taking two of the last three points to secure the set 15-12 and win the match 3-2.
 
Sophomore Natalie Bland led the charge for the Knights, giving full effort on both sides of the ball. Bland registered a match-high 23 kills, adding 15 digs and an ace. The double-double marks her team-leading ninth of the season as she reached 20+ kills for the second time this season. Her 15 digs were one shy of tying a career-high, set earlier this season. Fellow sophomore Erika Smith and fifth-year senior Addison Foote were the only other Knights to reach double-digit kills. Smith was excellent, notching a career-high 15 kills while hitting .379 with a block and a dig. Foote tied her season-high with 14 kills, one shy of a career-high, adding three digs and a season-high four blocks. Grad student Mara Perry showed her utility, once again stepping into the setter role for the injured junior Kylie Van Hoy. Perry set a new career-high with her 43 assists in the match while adding 11 digs, four kills and an ace for her second double-double of the year. Defensively, Bellarmine had four players with double-digit digs. In addition to Bland and Perry, freshman Payton Parsons impressed with a team-high 19 digs in the match, adding five assists while junior Tessa Nauert contributed 12 digs, three aces and two digs. At the net, senior Jayda Harris racked up a season-high tying six blocks.
 
Up next, Bellarmine will continue its final road trip of the season with a trip to Richmond, Ky. for a bout with in-state ASUN foe Eastern Kentucky before traveling to Fort Myers, Fl. to take on ASUN top dog Florida Gulf Coast.
 
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