The Lipscomb volleyball team came away with a clean sweep over Bellarmine Friday night in Allen Arena.
The Bisons faced the Knights earlier in 2021 during their spring season, beating them in three sets. On this occasion, Lipscomb was able to secure its sixth straight win over Bellarmine this year in the same fashion.
For longtime head coach Brandon Rosenthal, the key to victory was simple. “I know it sounds cliche, but I think we know what our strengths are,” Rosenthal said.
“Our strengths are serves, I thought we did a great job at serve receive and then when you look at having four players in double-digits kills in a three set match, that’s hard. That’s hard to defend.”
Lipscomb led from start to finish, beginning with 3 strong kills from sophomore outside hitter Kamryn Bacus. The Bisons put together a 4-0 run with serves from setter Delaney Dilfer, a sophomore from Austin, Texas. The set was pushed to 8-4 as freshman Anna Aubele and senior Logan Gish pounded back-to-back kills. Gish tallied up the most kills on the night with 13 to note. After a couple of Lipscomb errors, the Knights began to close the gap bringing the set to 14-13. As Anna Aublele logged her sixth kill of the set, the Knights called their first timeout. Returning to play, the Knights were humbled by an Addi Pelham rocket; run led by server Delaney Smith from Cincinnati, Ohio. Unable to catch up, the Knights fell in the first set 25-18 after two key service aces from outside hitter Logan Gish and defensive specialist Ashleigh Albert. Ashleigh leads the team with 18 service aces on the season.
Aubele would go on to set her career high in kills for the Bisons, and she credited her success on the night and across her freshman season to her teammates.
“I’ve been here since July, [but] when I got there was the first time I ever met a lot of them,” Aubele said. “I think spending so much time with them [helped me] get used to [the level of play].”
“By the time school actually started, I already had a month under my belt with a bunch of friends that I love very much. Them having my back and me having theirs has been really helpful.”
To open the second set, Logan Gish fired a ball down the line set up for her by sophomore setter Delaney Dilfer. The Knights managed to get on the board with a kill and an assist from junior Emily Arnold. In response, Kamryn Bacus racked up a couple of kills for Lipscomb; the Bisons took another early lead (6-2). Bellarmine was quick to call a timeout during a 4-2 run for Lipscomb. When play resumed, the Knights energy was up. They fought in an attempt to take the lead, but Lipscomb was not willing to give it up. With key kills from Aubele, Mersman, and Bacus the Bisons stretched the biggest lead of the night. The set stood at 21-12. Bellarmine Knight Seville Gates created tension in the game with two unstoppable kills followed by Lipscomb attack errors. The Knights were within reach of the set at 24-19, but could not create the point run necessary. Lipscomb senior Logan Gish clutched her tenth kill of the night to end the set at 25-19.
After the break, the Knights knew they needed to be dominant if they wanted any chance at staying in this match. Bisons libero Delaney Smith opened the set with her second service ace of the night. The Bisons gathered a 7-3 lead in the first 10 points led by server Libby Steinhart. Junior outside hitter Jayme Scott served the Knights into their first 4-0 run of the night. The Knights neared the Bisons 9-7. Knowing what needed to be done, freshman Anna Aubele from Oceanside, California remained consistent with kill after kill for the Bisons; reaching her season-high of 10 kills.
A Bellarmine attack error allowed Delaney Dilfer to place the Bisons closer to victory late in the set by sending 3 service aces and setting great balls to outside hitter Addi Pelham who posted 2 consecutive major kills. A gnarly solo block from sophomore Meg Mersman crossed the Bisons into 5 point lead territory creating a promising outlook for the third set. Kamryn Bacus turned the lights out for the Knights as she tipped the ball over the net for the final point of the game.
Further extending a winning streak, Lipscomb Volleyball is now 7-8 overall and 4-1 in conference play.
The Bisons will be back in Allen Arena at 2 pm Sunday for another conference match against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels. Sunday’s match will air live on ESPN+.
Photo courtesy of CJ Arndt