Box Score
JACKSON, Miss. – Lee University looked like the fifth ranked team in the country on Saturday, beating the Blazers in straight sets snapping a six match winning streak. Belhaven was unable to find an answer for the athletic front line for the Flames and lost their second Southern States Athletic Conference match of the year.
Belhaven knew coming into the match that Saturday afternoon would be their toughest test of the 2012 season. The Blazers had been mostly untested on their way to a 16-3 start, but the team looked to be hitting their stride entering their matchup with the Flames.
The first set didn't start the way Belhaven had planned with the tall front line of Lee imposing their will on almost every point. If the team wasn't finishing points at the net on offense, then they were giving the Blazers trouble with some well-timed blocks on defense.
The Flames raced out to an early seven point lead before the Blazers called a timeout to rally the troops. Unfortunately, Lee came out just as strong out of the timeout to capture the first game 25-14.
Belhaven didn't back down from the challenge despite losing the first set and matched the Flames point for point to start the second set. The Blazers looked more like the team that has gone mostly unscathed in the SSAC with
Taylor Williams and
Natalie Davis finishing off key points to inspire confidence in the team.
Lee rebounded from the three point deficit to take command of the set at 16-11. However the Blazers were not to be out done and countered with a rally of their own to bring the match back within a point at 22-21.
The Flames closed the door on Belhaven coming out of a timeout and took a 2-0 overall match score with a 25-21 second set victory.
With the Flames in control of the match entering the third set, they completed the three set sweep with a 25-18 final set win. In the end, their presence up front was the difference in the match.
Williams and Davis paced the Blazers with eight and five kills respectively.
Erin Bradley added 20 kills and the lone block on the day for Belhaven.
Morgan Hofacker and
Katherine Owen led Belhaven in digs.
Belhaven will look to get back in track on Tuesday as they travel to Alcorn, Mississippi for the first game of a home and home series with Alcorn State. The match will be the first of a three match road trip for the Blazers.