Tuesday, September 09, 2008

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Lipscomb Lady Bisons used every weapon in their arsenal in a 3-0 sweep of Belmont.

The Lady Bisons were the preseason No. 2 pick in the Atlantic Sun Conference and the coaches tabbed Belmont as the No. 3 team. The last time the two rivals faced each other was in the semifinals of the Atlantic Sun Tournament in Macon, Ga., a 3-2 Lady Bisons win.

This time around it wasn't that close. Tuesday night at Allen Arena the Lady Bisons got the first point in the first set and never looked back. They won set one 25-23, set two 25-21 and set three 25-18.

In set two the Lady Bisons fell behind at 4-3 and did not retake the lead until a kill by outside hitter Katie Bradley put them ahead 15-14. They lost that lead as well, but a kill by freshman outside hitter Katie Rose put the Lady Bisons ahead 21-20, an advantage they did not give away down the stretch.

Set three opened with Belmont taking the early advantage, but the Lady Bisons prevailed, taking the lead at 11-10 on a kill by opposite Erin Pierce, and never looking back.

It was the first home match and first Atlantic Sun match of the season for the Lady Bisons. A record crowd of 723 watched.

Sophomore middle blocker Alex Kelly kept her streak alive, leading the Lady Bisons for the eighth straight match with a match-high 18 kills. She also posted a .556 hitting percentage.

On the outside freshman Katie Rose and sophomore Katie Bradley each made eight kills.

Senior Jessica Turner, making her first ever appearance in the libero position, made a career high and a match high 22 digs.

Cat Mundy led Belmont with 10 kills. Mundy recorded her 1,000th career kill in the match's second set. Megan Clements added 10 digs.

Pierce finished with nine kills and eight digs and a match-high .615 hitting percentage.

The Lady Bisons are 2-6 overall, 1-0 in the Atlantic Sun. Belmont is 4-4, 0-1 in the conference.