NASHVILLE, TENN. - - Following a rare home loss hours earlier, Belmont Volleyball responded with a convincing three game victory over Stetson Saturday afternoon, 30-13, 30-20, 30-25.

The Bruins saw their 13 match home winning streak come to end Friday night in a hard-fought four game loss to league newcomer Florida Gulf Coast. Nevertheless, Belmont came out rejuvenated and loose against the upstart Hatters.

A kill by senior Jaye Schuler (Lexington, Ill.) followed by two aces from senior Brittany Card (Carlinville, Ill.) gave the Bruins an early 3-0 lead. The margin grew to 9-2 on the serve of senior Colleen Nilson (McHenry, Ill.), as Belmont was clicking on all cylinders.

Four aces in a six point span by junior Emily Cahill (Lakeside Park, Ky.) increased the lead to 17-4 before a Stetson timeout.

Belmont would have a season-high 17 aces for the match.

Nilson would mix in several tips for kills throughout the remainder of the game to keep Stetson off balance. Freshman Kayla Albritton (Gainesville, Fla.) closed out game one with a kill, 30-13.

BU outhit the Hatters .355 to .043 in game one.

Stetson opened game two in fine fashion, scoring four of the first five points on the serve of Rachel Miller. Tied at 11-11, Belmont scored five straight points to break free. Junior Cat Mundy (Dallas, Texas) supplied two big kills during the run.

The Hatters closed to within three, 17-20, before Belmont rode Card’s serve to close out the game. Once again Schuler provided offense from the middle to give the Bruins a quick 2-0 edge.

Belmont head coach Deane Webb elected to sit offensive mainstays Schuler, Cahill and Mundy in game three to give extended playing time to his promising crop of freshmen.

Aside from Albritton and libero Megan Clements (Indianapolis, Ind.), fellow freshmen Carly Frazier (Stillwater, Okla.), Tara Blood (Boise, Idaho), Katie Schwarz (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Ester Mellado (South Barrington, Ill.) each saw some of their most significant action at home this season.

Frazier in particular provided much of the offensive production, as Nilson fed her well on the outside. Despite building a four point lead, Belmont saw Stetson stay within shouting distance and eventually take a 19-18 on an attack error. The Bruins committed nine attack errors in game three.

But Belmont answered the call. Behind the seasoned play of Nilson and sophomore Jenny Gray (Greenwood, Ind.), the Bruins would not be denied. Fittingly, the match ended on a Nilson ace.

Albritton and Mundy each had nine kills for Belmont; the first match this season that Mundy did not reach double figures. Clements had a team-high 12 digs. BU held Stetson to .070 hitting.

Karla Readshaw led Stetson (7-11, 2-3 A-Sun) with 16 assists and 11 digs.

Belmont (14-6, 4-1 A-Sun) returns to action this Friday at Jacksonville.