JACKSON, Miss. - The Belhaven University volleyball team remained undefeated on the season, as they swept their first two matches at the Belhaven/Millsaps Invitational on Friday afternoon and evening at Rugg Arena.

The Blazers defeated both Rust and Tougaloo with 3-0 sweep victories on the day.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: Belhaven 3, Rust 0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-20)  Belhaven 3, Tougaloo 0 (25-18, 27-25, 26-24)

Records: Belhaven 6-0 | Tougaloo 6-4 | Rust 0-4 |

Location:  | Rugg Arena | Jackson, Miss. |

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- Rust Match

-. The Blazers got off to a solid start in the first set as they built a steady 13-4 advantage.

- Belhaven continued to capitalize off unforced errors by Rust and rolled to an easy 25-12 set victory.

- The Green and Gold got off to a slow start early on in the second set, but continued to stay aggressive with their offensive attack at the net and pushed ahead to a 13-7 lead.

- Later on in the set, the Blazers closed the deal with three straight kills and a service ace to take a 2-0 set lead.

- Belhaven struggled to retain their momentum from the first two sets in the final set of the contest.

- Rust kept things tight for a majority of the set as it was dead even at 15 apiece.

- Following a Belhaven timeout, the Blazers began to separate themselves momentarily.

- After being tied at 18-18, BU won four consecutive points to increase their lead out to 22-18.

- Rust closed the gap down to 22-20, but Belhaven ripped off three straight points to end the match and win the set 25-20.

 

-Tougaloo Match

- Belhaven controlled the first set with solid net play and quality serves.

- The Blazers won seven straight points to lead 14-5 as Megan Nobles recorded three service aces in that span.

- A kill from Jackie Fredericks ended the set for a 25-18 Blazer set victory.

- In the second set, Belhaven was tested the entire way.

- Tougaloo built a 10-7 lead and would not give the Blazers' an inch of momentum.

- Belhaven found their groove by winning five straight points to lead 12-10.

- The Bulldogs had the Blazers on the ropes with a 24-23 set lead and an ensuing set point, but the Blazers fought back hard and two straight points on kills from Lauren Whiting and Ryan Hardin.

- With the set knotted up at 25, Belhaven won the final two points on a service error and then an ace from Sydney McEachern.

- The Blazers had another tough set in the third.

- Neither team could separate themselves as the set was all tied up at 15 apiece midway through.

- Tougaloo once again had the Blazers reeling late in the set with another 24-23 lead and a set point on the way.

- However, the Blazers fought back once again and ended the match by winning the final three points, including a match-winning kill from Ryan Hardin up at the net.

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KEY STATISTICS

- Rust Match

-  The Blazers hit at least .500 as a team in every single set, including an outstanding .852 hitting percentage in the second set.

- Belhaven notched 45 kills together as a team in the victory.

- Lauren Whiting registered a team-high 12 kills and three service aces.

- Jackie Fredericks added nine kills, while Callista Moore and Carissa Pauda recorded six kills each.

- Meghan Luker added 18 assists and Grace Eidson finished with 12 respectively.

- Grace Laukhuf tabbed 10 assists as well.

- Chelsea Creighton and Emily Carroll also placed four kills each.

 

- Tougaloo Match

-. Whiting and Pauda each finished with a team-high nine kills.

- Whiting also collected 10 digs.

- Senior Ryan Hardin had six digs and two block assists.

- Sydney McEachern totaled a team-high 22 digs in the victory.

- Megan Nobles finished with 16 digs and five service aces.

- Meghan Luker led the team in the assist column with 11.

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UP NEXT

Belhaven will return to Rugg Arena tomorrow for the final two matches of the Belhaven Invitational. The Blazers will face University of Dallas at 11:00 a.m. and LaGrange College at 3:00 p.m.

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