DELAND, Fla. — Stetson volleyball wrapped up its homestand Sunday against Bellarmine, falling 3-0 (21-25, 12-25, 19-25) at Insight Credit Union Arena.
Karsu Bayraktar led the Hatters offensively with 10 kills on a .318 hitting percentage, while the team recorded six service aces and matched Bellarmine with 36 digs.
Bayraktar paced the Stetson attack with a team-high 11.5 points.
Vanessa Shevchenko added 22 assists and surpassed 100 digs for the season, while
Sofia Torcello contributed seven kills and a team-high two service aces.
The Hatters made multiple pushes in the opening set, overcoming an early 8-5 deficit to take a 10-9 lead. Stetson later rallied from a 15-13 disadvantage to move ahead 18-16, with Bayraktar providing key kills and
Vitoria Stedile, Torcello and Shevchenko each adding a service ace. The set remained close at 20-20 before Bellarmine took the final points to win 25-21.
Stetson looked to respond in the second set, with
Andrea Diaz Dominguez and Bayraktar recording kills late in the frame. The Hatters continued to compete through the set but fell 25-12.
In the third set, Bayraktar recorded consecutive kills to help spark the Stetson offense. Torcello added a service ace, and a combined block from
Keely Starnes and Shevchenko helped the Hatters continue to chip away at the deficit. Stetson pulled within four at 23-19 before Bellarmine closed the set 25-19.
Hatters Top Performers
Up Next
The Hatters hit the road to face North Florida on Friday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. at UNF Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
