The Belmont Abbey College men's volleyball team fell to 9-7 (6-5 Conference Carolinas) with losses to King University and Quincy of the MIVA. The Abbey were bested by the Tornado in five sets: 23-25, 25-23, 29-31, 25-21, 13-15) and in four to Quincy (25-21, 14-25, 21-25, 27-29) on day one of the AVCA Challenge Matches in Berea, KY.

In the first match, Belmont Abbey out-paced the Tornado with a .329 to .308 clip, 72 to 59 digs and 10 to seven blocks. Senior outside hitter Nolan Albrecht led both teams with 33 kills and a .391 attacking percentage. Senior setter Derek Sullivan also led both teams with 66 aces.

The first set was even to nine apiece until a Crusader service error followed by a Tornado ace spurred a 5-2 King Run. Kills from Albrecht, Sullivan and senior middle blocker Justin Snyder brought the set to even at 19.

Both teams traded points but a kill from Jeff Sprayberry sealed the set for the Tornado.

Set two was extremely similar to the first but Snyder broke the 17 tie with a kill out of the middle. Junior outside hitter Brennan Beyner finished the set with a kill down the line.

The third and fourth sets were evenly split with the Abbey hitting .320 to the Tornado .323.

In the fifth, Belmont Abbey got the turn at 8-6 but a kill from Sprayberry and an attacking error from Beyner tied the rubber set. King earned their final two points with kills from Drooker and a block from Wheaton & Besson.

Belmont Abbey started the first set with a 4-3 lead but the Hawks tied the opening frame at five apiece. At 7-6, The Abbey held the lead for the entire first set closing it out 25-23.

The Hawks matched the intensity in the second set jumping out to a commanding 8-2 lead.  An Abbey timeout did not bode beneficial as Quincy went on to win 25-14.

At 16-21 in the third, Belmont Abbey made a three point run to bring it within two, but an offense run by Kelso and Lawson solidified the set 21-25.

Quincy led most of the fourth set with an explosive offense until the Abbey knotted up the set at 16. It wasn't until a kill from Snyder brought the set to tied again at 23.

Quincy and the Crusaders rallied to 27 each but a kill from Gamache and error from Albrecht finished the match.

Belmont Abbey is back in action Tuesday, March 8^th against Graceland at 2:00 PM and Alderson Broaddus at 5:00 PM. You can view the livestats HERE: http://www.sidearmstats.com/quincy/mvball/