Sept. 4, 2009

Box Score | Tournament Central

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont volleyball won the first match of the 2009 season on Friday night, defeating Southeast Missouri State in three sets (25-21, 25-19, 25-21) in the opening day of the Belmont Invitational at the Curb Event Center.

The Bruins were led by a steadfast defensive effort which held the Redhawks to a .078 hitting percentage. With 51 total digs, Belmont nearly doubled a previous three-set season-high of 27 against Wichita State to open the season. The Bruins' nine team blocks sets an overall season-high six matches into the season.

"We really worked hard defensively," Head Coach Deane Webb said. "That is something that we have been stressing in practice, and defending at a high-level was our primary focus today. [SEMO] is traditionally a strong defensive team, and to out-defend them in the front- and back-row was a very good performance for us."

Megan Clements registered her sixth match in a row with double figures in digs, finishing with 18. Jenny Gray marked a season-high of 11 digs, also adding seven kills and five blocks.

Belmont took advantage of small runs throughout the match to keep the Redhawks at bay. In the first set, Channing Salava dove to keep a ball in play, assisting Gray with a kill to spark 5-0 run by gaining momentum with a 10-7 lead. To end the set, Belmont scored six of the last seven point to take a 25-21 victory after 15 ties.

Maggie Johnson paced the Bruins in kills in the first set with five of her total of eight.

SEMO jumped off to a quick 7-2 lead in the second set, but the Bruins were able to respond by remaining consistent and taking advantage of opportunities. With a 7-2 run of their own, the Bruins tied it up at nine. Carly Frazier took to the end-line to serve a six-point rally that gave Belmont a comfortable 18-14 lead. The Bruins won, 25-19, after scoring the last four points of the match.

Kayla Albritton led all players with nine kills on a .421 hitting percentage. Albritton polished off the night with the final kill to give the Bruins a 25-21 third set victory.

Belmont (1-5) will return to action on Saturday morning to face Central Arkansas at 10 a.m., and later in the day against Samford at 6 p.m. Central Arkansas (2-2) defeated Samford in three sets in the first match of the Invitational.

SEMO (2-2) will face Samford (3-1) tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.