NASHVILLE, Tenn. – While the offense hit over .300, the Jacksonville State volleyball team's defense stepped up with a big performance to defeat Belmont, 3-1, on the road Sunday.
 
The Gamecocks (9-0) remain undefeated after dispatching Belmont (25-16, 25-20. 23-25. 25-12) in Sunday's weekend opener to drop the Bruins to a 1-8 start. The win gave JSU a 14-13 edge in the all-time series with one match remaining as conference foes.
 
Senior setter Lexie Libs continued her strong season with 47 assists to pace the Gamecocks to a .301 hitting mark as a unit. Junior Lena Kindermann led the way with 19 kills, while senior Kaylie Milton had 15 as part of a double-double to go with 12 digs. Junior Katie Montgomery and freshman Sadie Brown each hit better than .400 from the middle, but had equally as impactful performances from the defensive side of the net.
 
Montgomery helped turn away six attacks, while  Brown, Libs and Kindermann all had three blocks. For any Bruin attacks that made it through the front line, sophomore libero Erin Carmichael's 19 digs led a trio of Gamecocks with 10-or-more. Freshman Tahya Pozorski had a terrific afternoon with a career-high 14 digs to reach double-digits for the first time.    
 
In the opening set, JSU pulled away from an 8-6 lead with multiple kills from Kindermann and Milton to double the Bruins at 16-8 and force a timeout. BU would trim the margin back to four at 18-14 before JSU cruised away to a 25-16 win.
 
The Gamecocks trailed 3-0 to start the second, and were still down three at 12-9. Behind defensive dives and slides, JSU's back row along with Milton and Kylee Quigley allowed the offense enough chances to pull JSU back even at 14-14. JSU led 20-19 when a couple of kills by Courtney Glotzbach and a service ace from Libs opened the door for a set two victory at 25-20.
 
Like the second, BU jumped out to the early lead in the third, but this time the Gamecock weren't able to reel the Bruins in as quickly. With BU ahead 20-16, a kill by Brown and a Bruin error brought JSU back within two, but the Gamecocks were still in trouble. JSU faced set point down 24-20, and fought off three attempts before falling 25-23.
 
JSU regrouped to roll through the fourth with a decisive 25-12 set win. The Gamecocks raced out to a 10-3 advantage and never slowed down on its way to a ninth-straight win.
 
JSU and Belmont will meet again on Monday at 4 p.m. in the weekend finale which will stream on ESPN+.