NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Behind a .347 team hitting percentage, the Jacksonville State volleyball team put Belmont away in straight sets on Saturday for the Gamecocks' first sweep over the Bruins in Nashville since 1997.
 
The Gamecocks (11-7, 5-1 Ohio Valley Conference) are off to their best start in league play since 2016 after dismantling the host Bruins (2-17, 1-5 OVC). JSU's dominating conclusion to the weekend capped six-straight set wins over Tennessee State and Belmont over the weekend. After six league games JSU sits tied for first place with Morehead State, who the Gamecocks handed a loss to earlier in the year.
 
Much like all season, sophomore Lena Kindermann powered through with 13 kills to lead the team on Saturday, followed by senior Kaylee Frear with 11. Frear, however, also matched a team-high with three blocks to push her over the 400 mark for her career. Kaylie Milton reached nine kills, while Sadie Anderson hit .462 with six putaways. Freshman Erin Carmichael and Lexie Libs led the team in digs behind a defense that tallied seven blocks. 
 
The Gamecocks surges out to a 16-5 advantage in the opening set to take control early. JSU would go on to hit .520 as a team in the first to run away with a 25-12 win as the Bruins were held to a -.077 average.
 
The second set was the closest of the day's three frames as the set featured six ties and three lead changes. After starting in a 4-0 hole, JSU meticulously closed the gap until a kill from Anderson handed JSU its first lead at 19-18. The Bruins hung around to keep the score even at 21, before a service error gave the advantage back to JSU. Up 24-23, a final swing from Kindermann gave way to a 2-0 match lead.
 
The third game began 8-8 before JSU used an 8-2 run to force Belmont to call its first timeout. Out of the break, the Gamecocks continued to roll for a 25-16 win.
 
JSU remains on the road next weekend with trips to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Eastern Illinois.