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