Belhaven University Athletics

IRVING, Texas - Belhaven Volleyball closed its weekend in Texas with a pair of matches Saturday at the Crusader Classic, falling to Paul Quinn in three sets before taking one from host Dallas in the nightcap.

Belhaven pushed Paul Quinn throughout the opening set, which featured five ties and a lead change. The Blazers totaled 18 kills and battled to a 24-24 tie before Paul Quinn won the next two points to take the frame, 26-24.

The second set went back and forth early with six ties and four lead changes, but Paul Quinn eventually created separation on the way to a 25-14 win. The Tigers scored first in the third and did not relinquish the lead, closing out the match with a 25-19 victory.

Megan LaCour led Belhaven with 10 kills and added 11 digs for a double-double. Cami Davis finished with seven kills on 15 swings and hit .333, while Laila Gauthier added six kills. Maggie Joy Tomlin handed out 27 assists to go with 13 digs. Kayla Robinson led the back row with 16 digs and served both of Belhaven's aces, while Tarryn Woodall also reached double figures with 13 digs.

Belhaven held a 39-37 advantage in kills and edged Paul Quinn, 70-67, in digs. The Tigers committed only nine attacking errors and finished with 10 service aces. Carrie Weston paced Paul Quinn with 19 kills, 10 digs and three aces.

The Blazers responded with their best serving performance of the weekend against Dallas but fell in four sets, 16-25, 25-14, 17-25, 22-25. Belhaven led 6-3 in the opening set before Dallas worked its way back and evened the score at 8-8. The Blazers later pulled within one at 14-13, but the Crusaders answered with six straight points to build a 20-13 advantage and went on to take the set.
Angel Edwards helped Belhaven take control early in the second, serving three aces during a four-point run that put the Blazers ahead 6-2. Belhaven stretched the margin to 10-5 before Tomlin took over at the service line.

Tomlin served seven consecutive points, including five aces, as the lead grew to 17-5. The Blazers hit .200 in the set and finished it with a LaCour kill for a 25-14 win.

Dallas opened the third set on a 4-0 run and stayed in front the rest of the way. Belhaven cut the margin to four twice, but the Crusaders pulled away for a 25-17 victory. The Blazers built leads of 7-3 and 10-5 in the fourth. Dallas answered with a 10-3 stretch to move ahead 15-13, setting up a tight finish. Belhaven erased a four-point deficit and tied the set at 21-21 on a Woodall block, but the Crusaders scored four of the final five points to close out the match.

LaCour posted her second double-double of the day with 14 kills and 11 digs while hitting .250. Woodall followed with 13 kills. Tomlin finished with 24 assists and seven aces, while Edwards added four aces. Robinson anchored the defense with a match-high 23 digs. Belhaven served 11 aces compared to seven for Dallas. The Crusaders finished with a 46-34 advantage in kills and hit .180, while the Blazers hit .050.

Belhaven returns to Rugg Arena on Friday, Sept. 11, for matches against LeTourneau at 3 p.m. and Centenary at 7 p.m. The Blazers will also host Principia at noon on Saturday, Sept. 12.

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