Dec. 5, 2008

Final Stats |  Quotes

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Belmont volleyball ended one of the best seasons in program history with a three-set loss to No. 6 Hawai'i in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night in Los Angeles, Calif. (19-25, 25-11, 25-16).

Belmont (25-8) was in-step with the Wahine early in the first set when they took a lead of 6-5 after beginning the set with a 1-3 deficit. The Bruins strong effort was fueled by freshman Channing Salava's four kills on five attempts in the first set. Salava finished with no attacking errors and a .714 hitting percentage for the match. Belmont lost the first set, 19-25, which featured five tied scores and two lead changes.

During the second set Hawai'i (29-3) began to find the same grove that gave them a 15-match winning streak coming into the NCAA Tournament, going on a 10-0 run to take a 13-5 led. The Rainbow Wahine held Belmont to a -.083 hitting percentage while allowing no Bruin to have over one kill, individually, in the second set.

Hawai'i powered through the third set with 15 kills on a .303 hitting percentage as a team to take the match with a 16-25 set-three victory.

"I was pleased with the effort that our team showed, knowing that we were going to give up inches - sometimes several - at every position from the playing and coaching side of things," Head Coach Deane Webb said. "Dave has been coaching there since I was three, so I have the utmost respect for that program and what he has been able to do there - it hasn't always been that way. It is an amazing experience that (Hawai'i) gets to enjoy with the fan support. I told him before the match that it was an honor to coach against him."

Jenny Gray paced the Bruins in kills with six on a .545 hitting percentage and no attacking errors. It is the second time that Gray has led the team in kills this season. Gray also led the Bruins defense with four blocks against a Hawai'i team that ranks sixth in the nation in hitting percentage.

Senior Cat Mundy ended one of best careers in Belmont volleyball history with five kills while leading the team in digs with eight. Fellow senior Emily Cahill, Belmont's career hitting percentage leader, also left the court for the last time as a Bruins with one kill against the Rainbow Wahine.

Hawai'i out-gained the Bruins in kills 34-23. Belmont's 23 marks the lowest offensive output of the season thanks to a Hawai'i defense that held the Bruins to a .087 hitting percentage. It is just the second time this season that the team leader in kills has not reached double digits, the last time was in a three-set victory over Stetson (10/4/08).

The Bruins No. 4 national ranking in service aces per set was not apparent as Hawai'i held the advantage in aces, 10-1. Belmont's one ace marks a season-low as a team.

It was the second trip to the NCAA Tournament in three years for Belmont as they retire a season that set a record for wins in a season during the Division-I era (25).

Hawai'i, the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament will now play the winner of Southern California and San Diego for the right to play for the Fort Collins (Colo.) Regional title.