Nashville, Tenn. - The Stetson volleyball team finished up its two-match conference road trip to the Music City with a 25-16, 25-17, 25-21 loss at Belmont on Saturday at the Curb Event Center. Sophomore outside hitter Kaley Melville (New Germany, Minn.) led the Hatters with 11 kills; Stetson dropped to 6-15 overall and 1-8 in the Atlantic Sun Conference with the loss. The Bruins improved to 16-8, 7-2 A-Sun and moved back into a tie for second place in the league.
Although Stetson wasn't too far behind the Bruins in kills (41-32) or digs (61-52) at the end of the match, it may well have been the service game, traditionally a Belmont strong suit, that swung each set in favor of the Bruins. Belmont knocked down five service aces and took advantage of 10 Stetson serving errors for a 15-6 advantage on non-rallies.
Junior Kelli Carneal (Fredericksburg, Va.) and freshman Erika White (Jacksonville, Ill.) again shared the setting duties with the former finishing with 15 assists and 10 for the latter. Defensively, junior libero Monique Russell (Phoenix, Ariz.) led the way for Stetson with 15 digs while freshman defensive specialist Savannah Byl (Bradenton, Fla.) added 11. Backing up Melville's 11 kills was senior outside hitter Kaylee Ream (Venice, Fla.) with eight kills and nine digs for a near double-double.
A-Sun Preseason Player of the Year Maggie Johnson notched a 15-kill, 10-dig double-double to pace Belmont to the victory with setter Hannah Miranda (30 assists, 12 digs, six kills) achieving a double-double as well. Jamie Lundstrom (14 digs) and Scarlet Gable (10 digs, eight kills) also reached double digits on defense for the Bruins.
The Hatters return to the road for a 6:00 pm Tuesday match at Savannah State. Stetson will host a Serve for the Cure match at 3:00 pm Saturday, October 29 against A-Sun rival FGCU in the Edmunds Center. Fans are encouraged to wear the color pink as will the Hatters. All proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
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