NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Saint Mary's College Volleyball took home a big 3-2 victory over Adrian College on Wednesday night. The Belles improve to 13-7 (1-4 MIAA) while the Bulldogs fall to 1-18 (0-6 MIAA). 
 
Saint Mary's got out to a quick seven point lead in the first set thanks to multiple runs of three or more points and held off Adrian's comeback attempts to take the first set, 25-19. Kills from senior Delaney Martin (North Judson, IN) and sophomore Kalli Lewkowski (Spring Lake, MI) aided the Belles to close out the set along with an ace from sophomore Giuliana Graczyk (Chicago, IL) to win the final point. Martin and freshman Shannon Rudge (Granger, IN) both tallied four kills in the set.
 
The Bulldogs battled back and got out to an early multi-point lead to run through the majority of the second set. The Belles battled back throughout the set, and after trailing 24-18, the Belles went on a five point run to close the gap before the Bulldogs eventually closed the set, 25-23. Martin and Rudge moved to six kills each while senior Karli Fegan (Orland Park, IL) moved to 13 digs on the match.
 
Both teams traded points throughout the third set, with no one earning more than a couple point advantage. As the set came towards the end, the Belles took on a 24-21 lead. However, the Bulldogs bounced right back and took five straight points to take home the third set, 26-24, and take a 2-1 lead in the match. Six Belles were at five or more kills after the set while Rudge led with eight. Junior Abby Reese (Elkhart, IN) moved up to 19 assists on the night while three Belles had double digit digs.
 
Saint Mary's came out hot to start the fourth set, getting out to an early six point lead and extending it up to 10 at most before taking the set, 25-17, and forcing a fifth set. Rudge moved up to double digit kills with 10 while Reese moved to 25 assists. Fegan improved to 23 digs in the set.
 
Saint Mary's continued their hot streak to start the fifth set, getting out to a 10-4 lead early. After getting their lead up to 14-6, Adrian started their final comeback, going on a 6-0 run to pressure the Belles. After an attacking error, the Belles took home the final point and closed the set, 15-12, taking the match 3-2.
 
Rudge and Lewkowski led the team with 11 kills each while junior Caroline Carens (Naperville, IL) added 10 kills. Martin added nine while both Reese and senior Grace Braselton (Grand Rapids, MI) added eight each. Reese also led the team with 27 assists while Graczyk added 16. 
 
Defensively, Fegan led with 26 digs while Reese added 16. Graczyk and Rudge added 15 and 13 respectively. Carens led the team with five blocks while Reese and Braselton each added two.
 
UP NEXT FOR THE BELLES
Saint Mary's heads south for three games in two days in Memphis, TN on Friday and Saturday, October 24-25. The Belles will take on the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and Millsaps College on Friday before taking on the host Rhodes College on Saturday.