Bruins open 2019 season with pair of wins in Florida

Keiser Box Score
St. Thomas Box Score

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The No. 22-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team opened the 2019 season with a pair of victories Thursday at the Keiser University Tournament. BU earned a 3-2 (21-25, 25-17, 25-20, 22-25, 15-7) victory over host Keiser University in the opener. The Bruins swept St. Thomas (Fla.) University, 3-0 (25-23, 25-13, 25-21) in the nightcap. 

Bellevue (2-0) will conclude the tournament on Friday with a 10 a.m. match against Pensacola Christian College and a 2 p.m. contest versus Georgetown (Ky.) College.  

Bellevue 3, Keiser 2

Outside hitters Andrea Carson and Sierra Athen combined for 33 kills to lead the Bruins in the win over the Seahawks. Carson pounded a career-high 19 kills on .533 hitting to pace the BU attack. Athen added 14 kills, six digs, and a service ace. Rosa Reed-Bouley finished with nine kills and four blocks. 

Sophomore Olivia Galas notched a double-double with 37 assists and 16 digs while directing the BU attack to a .217 hitting percentage. 

Madi Evans paced the Bruin defense with a game-high 22 digs, three service aces, and four assists. Freshman Nicole Meyer contributed with a match-high six blocks in her first collegiate match. 

The Bruins out-dug the Seahawks, 66-58, and held a 13-5 edge in total blocks. 

Keiser had three players finish in double figures as Cassie Cox (14), Abbie Seward (13), and Jordan Odom (12) combined for 39 kills to pace the KU attack.  

Bellevue 3, St. Thomas 0

Carson and Coree Lipovsky both collected eight kills to lead BU in the sweep over the Bobcats. Lipovsky hit .500 while adding a match-high four blocks. 

Evans (12) and Sidney Craig (10) combined for 22 kills to lead the Bruin defense. 

Galas dished out 31 assists while adding five digs and three blocks. 

The Bruins out-hit STU .245 to .046 while holding a 38-31 edge in digs.