BOX SCORE

SPRINGFIELD, MO  - No. 8 seed Belmont claimed a 3-1 win (17-25, 27-25, 26-24, 25-11) over No. 5 seed Valparaiso in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament Sunday afternoon at Hammons Student Center.  The win delivered the Bruins their first MVC tournament win in program history and first postseason win for the program since capturing the OVC tourney title in 2015.

Belmont had an early 6-5 lead off a kill from Brooke Gilleland. Valparaiso then went on two 4-0 runs to take control midway through the set. Kristen Clemons and Ally Peterson teamed up for a block to bring the Bruins back within four at 10-14. The Beacons continued to push the tempo and claimed set one 17-25.
 
Valpo came out hot in the second and jumped to a 2-8 lead. With a block by Gilleland and Sydney Willis followed by a kill from Willis, the Bruins began working their way back in the set at 12-14. The Bruins then went on a 4-0 run capped off by a kill from Emily Warmenhoven to reclaim the lead at 16-15. The rest of the set was a battle. With a couple of Valpo errors and a kill from Gilleland, Belmont took a late lead at 24-22. Valpo pushed back and regained the lead at 24-25 to push the set into extra points. Warmenhoven tallied another kill to give the Bruins a set two win 27-25.
 
Both teams went back-and-forth in set three. Belmont put together a 4-0 run off a block from Willis and Warmenhoven midway through the set. Clemons put the ball away to even the score at 17 all. Gilleland later recorded another kill to give Belmont an edge at 22-20. Similar to set two, the Beacons countered and claimed a late lead at 22-24. The Bruins confidently faced two set points and evened the score at 24 all. Warmenhoven would get the final say again, and Belmont took set three 26-24.
 
It was all Belmont in set four. Lilly Lutz served up an ace followed by a kill from Warmenhoven to take a quick 6-0 lead. Warmenhoven continued to have the hot hand and stretched the Bruins' lead to 15-6. Gilleland and Peterson added two kills down the stretch and Belmont took a commanding 23-10 lead. Once again, Warmenhoven secured the set and match for Belmont 25-11. 

Belmont will face No. 4 Southern Illinois in the tourney quarterfinals, Monday at 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+.