NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's volleyball team held their own in a 3-1 (25-11, 25-21, 22-25, 25-18) setback against No. 3 ranked Hope on Tuesday evening.
Four-consecutive points capped off by a service ace by
Cali Allen put the Belles up 4-2 in the opening set. Hope countered with five quick points to gain a 7-4 lead. With the Belles still within striking distance at 11-8, the Flying Dutch went on a set-changing 11-0 run. Allen broke up the run with a kill, and
Shay Theile added a kill a couple of points later. Hope, however, used a kill and a block to close out the set by a 25-11 score.
Down 12-5 in the second set, the Belles chipped away at the deficit.
Caroline Carens and
Shani Russell teamed up for a block,
Cali Allen had back-to-back kills, and Saint Mary's refused to go down without a fight. Another Allen kill moments later sparked a four-point spurt with a block by
Shay Theile and
Patricia Settlemier, an ace by Allen, and a kill by Settlemier to make it a three-point difference.
Caroline Carens then sparked another run with a kill.
Mia Shields added an ace, Carens and Russell put away a block,
Delaney Martin collected a kill, and Shields served up another ace to put the Belles ahead 20-19. A kill by Carens tied the score at 21-21 three points later, but the Flying Dutch put the next four points on the scoreboard for a 25-21 win.
Trailing 9-4 in the third set, the Belles again battled their way back into the mix. A service ace by
Shani Russell knotted things up at 13-13, and an ace by
Cali Allen tied the score at 15-15. Hope pulled ahead 19-15, but two kills by Carens along with a block by Martin and Carens and a pair of Flying Dutch miscues gave the Belles a 20-19 lead. Carens put away another kill for a 23-21 lead, and
Grace Braselton capped off the set with a kill for a 25-22 win for the Belles.
Saint Mary's fell behind in the fourth set but came back to pull within a point at 10-9 on a
Shani Russell ace and a
Grace Braselton kill. A kill by
Cali Allen and a block by
Patricia Settlemier and
Grace Braselton a few moments later saw the Belles make it a one-point difference again at 12-11. Four quick Hope points started a momentum-shifting 7-1 scoring spurt for the Flying Dutch. Three consecutive Saint Mary's points with kills from
Delaney Martin and
Caroline Carens edged the Belles within four at 19-15. The home side continued to hold their ground as back-to-back
Cali Allen kills put Saint Mary's within three at 21-18. Hope was able to get the next four points to take the 25-18 set and the 3-1 match decision.
The Belles (4-10, 0-3 MIAA) are back at home on Friday, October 13 when they host Trine at 7:00 p.m.
