ALBION, Mich. - The Saint Mary's volleyball team came up on the short end of a 3-0 (25-9, 25-18, 25-13) final at Albion in the Belles' season finale on Saturday.

 

Albion jumped out to an 8-1 lead in the first set before extending their advantage to 13-3. Caroline Carens put down a kill, and Carens and Cali Allen teamed up for a block to get a pair of points on the scoreboard for the Belles. A short while later, back-to-back errors by the Brits again gave Saint Mary's consecutive points, but the Belles were unable to build a larger run and ultimately fell in the opening stanza 25-9.

 

The Belles came out with a fresh start in the second set and rattled off four strong points early for a 5-2 lead. Patricia Settlemier found the floor with a kill before pairing up with Caroline Carens for a block. Grace Braselton added a kill, and Braselton and Carens put down a double block in the middle for the three-point advantage. The Brits responded with a five-point run to regain the lead, but the Belles stayed close after a pair of service errors and a Shani Russell kill to make it 10-8. Cali Allen added a kill and a solo block moments later to put Saint Mary's within one at 11-10. The Brits, however, took six of the next seven points for an 18-12 advantage. The Belles made a late push in the set with consecutive kills by Delaney Martin and Carens along with two kills by Cali Allen and a Shay Theile kill to make it a 22-18 score. The lead proved to be too large to overtake late as Albion claimed the set 25-18.

 

An early four-point run saw Albion gain a 4-1 lead, but the Belles continued to battle. Patricia Settlemier and Caroline Carens picked up kills to make it 5-3, and a kill by Delaney Martin followed by a solo block by Cali Allen made it a one-point difference at 6-5. Allen put away another kill two points later as the Belles edged within one again at 7-6. The Brits, however, countered by claiming seven of the next eight points to build a 15-8 advantage. The Belles were unable to get within fewer than six points of Albion down the stretch, and Albion took the set 25-13 for the win.

 

For the match, Albion posted a .378 attack percentage while Saint Mary's was limited to a .071 hitting effort.

 

Caroline Carens paced the Belles with six kills, three blocks, and an ace. Cali Allen added five kills and a team-best 12 digs to go along with three blocks. Patricia Settlemier, Shay Theile, and Delaney Martin each posted four kills in the match. Shani Russell had 13 assists and four digs, and Abby Reese put up 10 assists with two digs. Karli Fegan picked up seven digs, and Mia Shields added five digs.

 

The Belles finished the season 6-14 overall and 1-7 in MIAA play.