Belhaven University Athletics

WILMORE, Ky. - Belhaven Volleyball stormed back from a two-set deficit to earn its first victory over Asbury before closing the day with a three-set loss to Spalding at the Luce Center.

The Blazers entered Saturday 0-4 all-time against Asbury and had not taken a set from the Eagles. After Asbury claimed the opening two frames, that stretch reached 14 consecutive sets before Belhaven answered by winning three straight to complete the reverse sweep, 18-25, 21-25, 25-14, 25-22, 16-14.

Belhaven moved to 1-2 in Collegiate Conference of the South play with the win and finished the day 6-8 overall following the 25-13, 25-20, 25-22 setback against Spalding.

Belhaven 3, Asbury 2
Belhaven grabbed an early 6-4 lead in the opening set, but Asbury responded with eight consecutive points to move in front, 12-6. The Eagles totaled 17 kills and hit .213 in the frame, pulling away for a 25-18 win.

The second set remained tight through an 11-11 tie. Asbury then broke the frame open with nine unanswered points, building a 20-11 advantage. The Blazers made a late push and fought off three set points before the Eagles closed out the 25-21 win.

With their backs against the wall, the Blazers took control early in the third. Cami Davis and Laila Gauthier combined for a block before Angel Edwards delivered consecutive aces to give Belhaven an 8-3 advantage.

Asbury trimmed the margin to 12-10, but Belhaven answered with seven of the next eight points. Tarryn Woodall recorded an ace during the run, while Gauthier added a kill to help stretch the lead to 19-11. The Blazers limited Asbury to six kills and a -.094 hitting percentage in the set, and Woodall finished off the 25-14 win with a kill.

Asbury appeared ready to halt the comeback after racing out to an 8-1 lead in the fourth. The Eagles later held a 13-5 advantage before Belhaven turned the set around.

An Asbury attacking error gave the Blazers the serve at 6-13, and Kayla Robinson remained behind the line as Belhaven scored the next seven points. Robinson served an ace, Woodall and Davis supplied kills and the Blazers forced four attacking errors to pull even at 13-13.

The teams were tied again at 14, 15 and 19 before Belhaven moved ahead on a Gauthier kill and a Woodall ace. Asbury stayed within a point late, but consecutive Eagle errors gave the Blazers a 25-22 victory and sent the match to a deciding set.

Belhaven carried the momentum into the fifth and opened leads of 5-2 and 9-6. A Davis block and an Asbury attacking error helped the Blazers move ahead 11-8, and Belhaven eventually reached match point at 14-12.

Asbury erased both match points to tie the set at 14, but Megan LaCour answered with a kill to put Belhaven back in front. An Asbury attacking error on the next rally completed the 16-14 win and Belhaven's first reverse sweep of the season.

Gauthier led a balanced Belhaven attack with 10 kills. LaCour added eight, while Davis and Woodall finished with seven apiece. Davis hit .400 and recorded four total blocks, including three solo stops. Maggie Joy Tomlin posted a double-double with 27 assists and 11 digs while adding two aces. Robinson anchored the back row with a match-high 28 digs, and Woodall finished with 14 digs and three aces.

Although Asbury held advantages in kills (60-36) and digs (93-69), Belhaven committed just 18 attacking errors compared to 39 by the Eagles. The Blazers also served 10 aces and matched Asbury with eight total blocks.

Spalding 3, Belhaven 0
Spalding opened the second match with five straight points and never trailed in the first set. Three consecutive service aces later extended the margin to 16-7 before Spalding took the frame, 25-13.

Belhaven settled in during the second, pulling even at 7-7 and again at 15-15. The Blazers remained within one at 21-20, but Spalding scored the final four points to secure a 25-20 victory.

The Blazers made another push in a third set that featured 10 ties and six lead changes. Belhaven erased an early 8-3 deficit, tying the frame at 10 on a Davis kill. The Blazers later moved in front, 20-19, following a Spalding attacking error.

Spalding responded with four consecutive points to take a 23-20 lead. Belhaven closed within 24-22, but Kylie Minnis ended the match with her 16th kill of the afternoon.

Gauthier led Belhaven with eight kills and hit .278, while Woodall finished with seven kills and six digs. LaCour and Asia Price added five kills apiece. Tomlin recorded her second double-double of the day with 13 assists and 11 digs. Edwards added eight assists and eight digs, while Robinson led the Blazers with 16 digs.

Spalding finished with a 39-30 advantage in kills and hit .157 to Belhaven's .110. The Blazers held a 3-2 edge in blocks, but Spalding led in aces (7-3) and digs (74-58).

Robinson totaled 44 digs across Saturday's two matches. Tomlin finished the day with 40 assists and 22 digs, recording a double-double in both contests, while Gauthier led the Blazers with 18 total kills.

Belhaven returns to Rugg Arena on Friday, October 2, when the Blazers host Agnes Scott in CCS action at 5:30 p.m.

For the latest news on Belhaven Blazers athletics, follow @BelhavenBlazers on Twitter and Instagram, and like us on Facebook. To support Belhaven Athletics check out Team Green Giving.