Bruins upset #10 Evangel

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Freshman Shayla Scanlan finished with a career-best 18 kills and the Bruin defense was terrific as the Bellevue University volleyball team defeated No. 10 Evangel, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Grand View Invitational. Bellevue won the match by scores of 13-25, 25-21, 25-20, 26-24.

After a disappointing opening set in which they were out-hit .310 to -.061 on their way to a 25-13 loss the Bellevue attack and defense came alive. BU held Evangel to a .176 hitting percentage through the final three sets while attacking at a strong .244 clip themselves.

Bellevue claimed a pair of close victories in sets two and three before eking out a nail-biter in the fourth to clinch the match. The Bruins trailed 24-23 before going on to win the final three points of the match. Senior Beth Walker recorded a kill to tie the match at 24-24 before a block by Walker and sophomore Mikaylah Gillespie gave BU a 25-24 lead and a match point opportunity. BU took advantage on the next point with freshman Marylyn Mozena scoring a kill to secure the victory.

Scanlan led the attack with 18 kills, her previous career-high of 17 came in a win at Baker on Sept. 12. She was joined in double figures, offensively, by sophomore Rachel Wald and Walker who added 11 and 10 kills, respectively. Mozena added nine kills and Gillespie chipped in with eight.

Walker, with her 10 kills and 44 assists, recorded her 23^rd double-double of the season and eighth in a row. Defensively, Bellevue was led by sophomore Taylor Holz's 21 digs while Wald added eight. Walker and Gillespie tied for the team lead with six total blocks apiece.

The Bruins finished with 16 total blocks as a team and out-dug Evangel 65-48 to overcome being out-hit .204-.178 on the afternoon.

Bellevue (19-13) returns to the court on Tuesday, Oct. 20 when they travel to Kearney, Neb. for a 7 p.m. match against Nebraska-Kearney.