No. 3 Bruins sweep 24th-ranked Trojans in home opener

Box Score
Frontier Standings

BELLEVUE, Neb. -- Behind a double-double from Eve Fountain, the third-ranked Bellevue University volleyball team swept No. 24 Dakota State University 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-16) on Wednesday evening in a Frontier Conference matchup in the Bruins' first-ever match in the BU Fieldhouse. 

With the victory, Bellevue improves to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in FC play, while Dakota State falls to 5-3 on the season and 1-2 in league action.

Fountain led all players with 14 kills on a .440 hitting percentage and added a match-high 15 digs for her fourth double-double of the season. Bentlee Kollbaum contributed nine kills and four blocks, Kealy Kiviniemi finished with eight kills on .421 hitting, and Mila Aiwohi dished out 18 assists with eight digs and a service ace.

For Dakota State, Tristyn Maras led the Trojans with seven kills, while Lauryn Kloth recorded five kills in the loss. Maddi Langerock handed out 16 assists and tallied seven digs, and Sydney Wathen and Kate VanRooyan paced the defense with 11 and 13 digs, respectively. 

Set 1: Bellevue 25, Dakota State 18

Bellevue took the opening set 25-18 over the Trojans, using multiple short scoring runs to create separation midway through the frame. With the score tied 4-4, the Bruins won five of the next seven points to go up 9-6, including kills from Kiviniemi and Berger, and a block by Berger and Bentlee Kollbaum.

The teams traded points before Bellevue added three straight — including another block by Berger and Kollbaum and a Kiviniemi kill — to extend the lead to 15-11 and force a DSU timeout. The Bruins pushed the margin to 20-14 following a Rowyn Scheer kill and multiple Trojan attack errors.

Late kills by Eve Fountain and Scheer helped BU maintain its cushion, and Kiviniemi closed the set with her fifth kill to give the Bruins a 1-0 match lead.

Set 2: Bellevue 25, Dakota State 15

The Bruins used an 11-2 run to open up an early 11-4 edge and never looked back in the second frame. The stretch featured four Trojan attack errors and kills from Berger, Kiviniemi, Kollbaum, and Aiwohi.

Fountain tallied four kills in the frame, including the set-clincher, as Bellevue moved ahead 2-0 in the match.

Set 3: Bellevue 25, Dakota State 16

Bellevue steadily pulled away in the third set after a back-and-forth opening stretch. Tied 10-10, the Bruins used a 12-4 run to take command, fueled by kills from Kollbaum and Scheer, a service ace by Jada Nunn, and a block from Kollbaum and Berger.

Fountain capped the set with a dominant finish, recording Bellevue's final five points on kills and tallying eight total kills in the frame. 

Up Next:

The Bruins will host Rocky Mountain College on Friday night, Sept 12, at 6 p.m. in the BU Fieldhouse.