LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Bellarmine University volleyball team turned in its 11
th win of the season, defeating Austin Peay 3-1 at home, setting a new high watermark for success in the Division I era for most wins in a single season.
The Knights (11-12, 5-6 ASUN) completed the season sweep over Austin Peay (4-19, 2-9 ASUN) on Friday night, and in doing so, cemented themselves in program history as the team to tally the most victories in a single season, topping head coach
Rick Nold's 10-win season in his first year at Bellarmine in 2022.
Junior
Erika Smith led the winning effort with a career night, racking up a career-high tying 15 kills, committing just two errors in 28 swings for an impressive .464 hitting percentage while also turning in a career-high tying six block assists. Fellow junior
Natalie Bland was the only other Knight in double figures, tallying 13 kills while hitting a respectable .242 with eight digs, two blocks, two assists and an ace. Three players tied to lead the team with 10 digs in sophomore
Payton Parsons and seniors
Tessa Nauert and
Kylie Van Hoy. Parsons added five assists to her line while Nauert contributed two assists and two aces. Van Hoy stuffed the stat sheet once again as she nearly recorded a triple double, registering 43 assists and seven kills (on 14 attempts to hit .500) in addition to an ace and career-high tying five blocks.
As a team, Bellarmine was on fire offensively, recording a season-best .360 hitting percentage. The Knights out killed Austin Peay 58-45 and limited the Governors offense to a .171 hitting percentage while forcing 23 errors. BU's block was also outstanding on the night, doubling that off Austin Peay's for a 10.0 to 5.0 advantage at the net. Bellarmine recorded a season-high 18 block assists for the third time this year. The Knights also outdid the Governors in assists (53-44), aces (6-5) and digs (53-48) for a complete team effort.
Austin Peay was led by sophomore Taly Cloyd who turned in 12 kills. The junior duo of Lauren Wallace and Reagan Anderson tallied 11 digs each to lead the match.
Up next, Bellarmine will open the month of November at home, welcoming Lipscomb to Knights Hall on Saturday, November 1.
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