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.

 

Caroline Carens and Delaney Martin led all players with nine kills apiece. Carens put down three blocks while Martin picked up nine digs and had a block. Cali Allen had eight kills, 15 digs, and a match-high four service aces, tying her career-high mark with the Belles. Patricia Settlemier tallied five kills, and Grace Braselton chipped in four. Karli Fegan had a match-best 16 digs on the night. Shani Russell put up 31 assists, two aces, two blocks, and two kills for the Belles. 

 

The Belles (4-10, 0-3 MIAA) are back at home on Friday, October 13 when they host Trine at 7:00 p.m.