Bruins sweep Comets on Senior Night

Box Score
NSAA Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Three Bruins recorded double-figure kill totals as the 20th-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team earned a 3-0 (25-19, 25-22, 25-14) sweep over visiting Mayville State University Friday night in North Star Athletic Association action at the Gordon Lozier Athletic Center. Bellevue's two seniors, Taylan Keefer and Allie Kerns, were honored following the match.  

With the sweep, the Bruins ended the regular season with a 22-8 overall record and an 8-4 mark in the NSAA. MSU dropped to 15-9 overall and 6-5 in league play. 

Kealy Kiviniemi and Eve Fountain recorded 12 kills apiece to pace the Bruin offense. Fountain added eight digs and a pair of service aces in the win. 

Kerns finished with 10 kills and a match-high six blocks. 

Keefer anchored the Bruin defense with 13 digs along with four assists. 

Mila Aiwohi (22) and Jada Nunn (15) combined for 37 assists while directing the BU offense to a .246 attacking efficiency. 

Nicole Kortan paced the Comet offense with nine kills. Elora Passa recorded a double-double with 14 assists and 10 digs, along with seven kills and a pair of blocks. Natalie Hadrava registered 13 digs for MSU. 

Set 1: Bellevue 25, Mayville State 19

After the Comets established a three-point advantage following a kill by Nicole Kortan, the Bruins went on a 4-0 run to take a 13-12 lead sparked by a pair of kills from Kiviniemi.  

Another 4-0 Bruin run capped by a service ace by Fountain gave BU an 18-16 edge, forcing a Comet timeout. 

BU closed the first frame on a 5-1 run to take the opening set, 25-19. 

Kerns led BU in the opener with six kills on .417 hitting. Kiviniemi hit .500 with four kills on eight swings.  

Set 2: Bellevue 25, Mayville State 22

After the Bruins raced out to a 10-5 lead in the second frame, the Comets battled back, using a 5-0 run to take a 13-12 lead following kills by Samantha Passa and Madison McKinnon.  

Neither team led by more than two points until BU used a kill by Sidney Sledge and a solo block by Kerns to take a 23-20 lead. 

Kills by Kiviniemi and Fountain gave BU the 25-21 victory and a commanding 2-0 lead in the match.  

Set 3: Bellevue 25, Mayville State 14

Bellevue used a 6-0 spurt to grab a 10-5 advantage in the third set. The Bruins expanded the margin to seven points at 15-8, fueled by kills from Kerns and Sledge. 

The Comets never got closer than six points the remainder of the set as BU cruised to the 25-14 victory. 

Fountain pounded five kills and hit .714 in the third frame.  

Up Next: 

The NSAA Tournament will take place next Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 9-11, at the Watertown Civic Arena in Watertown, S.D. Times and pairings will be released later this weekend.