JACKSON, Miss. - The Blazers split matches between the University of Dallas and LaGrange College, losing 3-2 to UD and winning 3-0 against the Panthers of LC to begin the season 7-1.

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INSIDE THE MATCHUP

Final: U of Dallas 3, Belhaven 2 (26-28, 16-25, 25-11, 26-24, 11-15)  Belhaven 3, LaGrange College 0 (25-7, 25-23, 25-18)

Records: Belhaven 7-1 | U of Dallas 4-3 | LaGrange College 2-4 |

Location:  | Rugg Arena | Jackson, Miss. |

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HOW IT HAPPENED

- Dallas Match

- The Blazers and Crusaders exchanged leads multiple times in the set of the match. Each team was tied at 25-25 towards the end of the set, forcing the win by two rule in which Dallas escaped with a 28-26 first set victory.

- Dallas jumped out to a 16-10 advantage in set two, cruising to win the set 25-16 to take a 2-0 lead.

- The Green and Gold jumped off to a fast start in set three, quickly taking a 10-1 lead. Belhaven dominated the rest of the set, winning 25-11 to bring the match to 2-1.

- Dallas looked poised to claim the match in set four, finding themselves with a comfortable 17-8 lead.

- The Blazers rallied to pull the score within a 24-20 and eventually dominate the final few points to beat Dallas 26-24 in set four, forcing a fifth and final set in the contest.

- With the score 12-11, Dallas strung together three straight points to claim the contest by a final score of 3-2.

-LaGrange Match

- Belhaven looked to be in control from the opening set against the Panthers, quickly jumping out to a 12-3 lead. 

- The Panthers managed to only score four more points, falling to Belhaven 25-7 in set one. 

- In the second set, the Blazers had a bit more of a challenge on hand. 

- Belhaven controlled a slim advantage for the first few points of set two but mid-way through the set, the Blazers and Panthers sat tied at 16-16.

- The two teams traded leads for the remainder of the set before Ryan Hardin helped the Blazers claim the 25-23 victory with a kill to end the set.

- Set three looked to be intense with LaGrange jumping out to an 11-8 lead before the Blazers were able to rally back and quickly take a 16-14 lead, midway through the set.

- The green and gold were able to distance themselves from the Panthers, surrendering only two more points and taking the set by a final of 25-18. The Blazers were able to sweep LaGrange 3-0 in the contest.

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KEY STATISTICS

- Dallas Match

- Belhaven notched 58 kills together as a team.

- Lauren Whiting registered a team-high 19 kills along with her 20 digs and two blocks.

- Jackie Fredericks added 14 kills, while Carissa Pauda added eight kills.

- Callista Moore led Belhaven with three blocks while Evelyn Parker and Lauren Whiting each had two blocks.

- Meghan Luker had a team-high 28 assists, followed behind Grace Eidson with 12, and Sydney McEachern with four.

- McEachern tabbed 26 digs and Megan Nobles had 11 total digs in the contest.

- LaGrange Match

-. Belhaven finished with 42 total kills as a team in the sweep of LaGrange College.

- Lauren Whiting, Carissa Pauda, and Ryan Hardin each had nine kills, combining for 27 kills.

- Megan Nobles led the Blazers with three aces. Callista Moore finished with two aces. 

- Meghan Luker and Grace Eidson had 11 assists each, respectively. Sydney McEachern ended with eight assists.

-McEachern also led all Blazers with 15 digs while Lauren Whiting finished second with 11. 

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UP NEXT

Belhaven will return to Rugg Arena next Friday to open up ASC play against East Texas Baptist University. The Blazers will face ETBU beginning at 7:00 p.m.

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