Sept. 5, 2009

Box Score

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After winning the first match of the season last night, Belmont volleyball lost to Central Arkansas in three sets on Saturday morning at the Curb Event Center in the Belmont Invitational (11-25, 23-25, 23-25).

UCA was paced by Chole Evans' match-high of 20 kills with a .515 hitting percentage; Evaree Evans followed with 10 kills and a .421 hitting rate. Behind their highest team hitting percentage of the season (.307) the Sugar Bears recorded a total of 50 kills with two players reaching double-figures in digs.

Kayla Albritton finished with seven kills on a season-high .467 hitting percentage and Maggie Johnson matched Albritton with seven kills and added nine digs.

In the first set, the Sugar Bears came out firing and hit for their highest percentage of the season during one set with a .471 rate and 18 team kills. The Bruins countered with just a .091 hitting percentage and seven kills, dropping the first set after scoring just 11 points. Sophomore transfer Katie Marshall made her first appearance as a Bruin in the waning moments of the set, subbing in for Jenny Gray.

Belmont recovered in the set second but was unable to hold off UCA's late run to win the set, 25-23. The Bruins held their largest lead of six before the UCA used a 6-1 run to tie it for the first time at 18. Six ties and four lead changes later, UCA outlasted the Bruins to win set two, 25-23.

Both teams came out even in set three before UCA took a 13-8 lead with a 6-1 run. Belmont was able to tie the set at 16 behind an Albritton kill and three-straight UCA errors. UCA had a total of 10 attacks go awry, registering a declined hitting percentage of .171 for the set, but was able to finish the sweep with a 23-25 victory.

Central Arkansas improves to 3-2 in their last season of transitioning to NCAA Division I athletics. The visitors from Conway, Ark., hold the upper hand at Belmont Invitational as the only undefeated team in the field, sweeping both Samford and Belmont.

The Bruins return to the floor at 6 p.m. in the final match of the Belmont Invitational at 6 p.m. against Samford.