Saturday, September 10, 2011

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - - Belmont (6-5) defeated UT-Martin 3-2 in dramatic fashion, overcoming a two sets to none deficit to win the Kangaroo Klassic on Saturday. The tournament championship is the first for the Bruins since winning the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in 2008.

On the bus ride to UMKC, assistant coach Jeff Wismer told the team the question of the day wasn't whether they had the talent to defeat both UMKC and UT-Martin, but whether they had enough guts to do it. The Bruins set out to prove that they did, in fact, have the guts, defeating UMKC in straight sets in the day's first game before overcoming a two set deficit and force a deciding fifth set against UT-Martin. Belmont trailed 6-9 at one point in the fifth set before battling back to tie the game and eventually take a lead. With the lead, the Bruins held off a furious rally from UT-Martin, including a loss of rally at 14-12 that gave the Skyhawks back the serve. When the serve sailed wide, the Bruins had completed a fantastic comeback to take the match, 3-2, and claim the tournament title.

Belmont once again rode the hitting arm of senior Maggie Johnson, who turned in 20 kills for the match, the fourth time this season she's recorded at least 20 kills. The Atlantic Sun Preseason Player of the Year got some much needed help from sophomore Allison McCoy, who set a new career high with 10 kills to go along with her team-high five block assists. The Bruins overcame a sluggish start in the match and a poor hitting performance in the first two sets, thanks in part to 11 service aces, including three from freshman Scarlet Gable and two each from Jen Myer and Hannah Miranda.

Balanced defense has become a staple for Belmont, who got 22 digs from libero Jamie Lundstrom while four other Bruins had at least six digs and three were also in double figures. Johnson turned in 18 digs to go along with her offensive performance, while Gable and Miranda each had 15 digs.

The Bruins seemed to be in trouble at intermission, having just been beaten soundly by UT-Martin, 25-15. Belmont responded with a solid 25-18 win of their own and carried that momentum into the fourth set, winning 25-18.