Bruins claim MCAC volleyball title

Box Score

POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. -- The No. 21 ranked Bellevue University volleyball team avenged its only conference loss this season, sweeping 24th-ranked College of the Ozarks 3-0 (26-24, 25-20, 25-17) in the MCAC Tournament championship Saturday afternoon at Keeter Gymnasium.

With the win, Bellevue improved to 29-6 while College of the Ozarks fell to 29-8. The Bruins also received an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament. Pairings and sites for the NAIA National Championship Opening Round will be announced on Sunday, Nov. 13.

Head coach Trish Siedlik also improved to 9-1 in MCAC championship matches.

Senior rightside Kali Schnacker led the Bruins with 17 kils on .424 hitting while adding three blocks. Senior middle Maureen Wardian added 10 kills and a match-high five blocks. Sophomore middle Sydney DeBoer hit .583 with eight kills in 12 swings..

Junior setter Jordan Broady directed the BU offense to a .350 hitting percentage while collecting 41 assists, seven digs, three kills, and two service aces. 

Meghan Evans (14) and Mollie Gavin (11) combined for 25 digs to pace the Bellevue defense. 

The opening set was evenly played as neither team was able to take control of the game and gain an advantage by more than four points. Trailing 24-23, the Bruins fought off set point and scored the final three points, capped off by a Bobcats attacking error to win, 26-24. Schnacker hit .353 and led the BU offense with seven kills.

Facing an early four-point deficit in the second set, 11-7, the Bruins scored the next four points to tie the stanza at 11-all. The two teams would trade points the remainder of the set before the Bruins ended the set on a 6-1 run to win, 25-20. Annie Benson and Schnacker each recorded two kills apiece in the decisive run.

The Bruins raced out to an early 14-4 lead in the third set and hit a sizzling .690 while cruising to the 25-17 win, completing the sweep. 

Notes:
- Bellevue has won seven straight matches and 12 of its last 13 contests.
- The Bruins received an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.
- Bellevue has advanced to the National Tournament for the fifth-straight season and sixth time in program history.
- Head coach Trish Siedlik has led her squads to the MCAC Tournament title game in all ten seasons as a head coach. She has a 9-1 record in the MCAC championship match.