JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville State volleyball team fell to Belmont Friday night (21-25, 24-26, 19-25) at Pete Mathews Coliseum.
 
JSU slips to 13-19 on the season and 3-10 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Bruins improved to 14-11, and maintained their second place spot in the league standings with an 11-2 conference mark.
 
Sophomore Allyson Zuhlke was the lone Gamecock with double digit kills finishing with 10. Sophomore Charis Ludtke turned in seven kills of her own. Even with a struggling offense, sophomore Jennifer Hart dished 24 assists.
 
Sophomore Hannah Kirk led the way with 12 digs. Ludtke and Hart each had six, respectively. JSU's defense was tasked with trying to slow down one of the top offenses in the league. The Bruins hit .300 combined for the match.
 
JSU led 9-6 and then 13-11 early in the first set. Belmont tied the game at 15-15 during a 4-0 stretch that saw the Bruins go ahead for good. The Gamecocks trimmed the deficit to 23-21 late, but couldn't ge any closer.
 
In the second set, JSU again got off to a quick start this time with a 4-1 advantage. After building an 11-7 lead, JSU held on down the stretch as Belmont fought back evening the score at 13. JSU trailed 22-20, when kills from Zuhlke and Ludtke powered a 3-0 run pushing JSU in front by one. The Bruins responded tying the set at 24-24 and taking the final two points for the win.
 
After coming up short in the opening frames, JSU didn't have the same drive in the third falling behind 11-4 and then 18-10. The Gamecocks made a run at the end to make it close, but the match belonged to Belmont.
 
JSU returns to action at home tomorrow with a 2 p.m. start time against Tennessee State. Prior to the match, the three seniors on this year's Gamecock squad will be recognized in a Senior Day presentation. Admission is free to all JSU home volleyball matches.