Rutgers Volleyball answers a rough morning with a clean 3-1 win over Bellarmine

Rutgers volleyball put a late-morning stutter behind it with a controlled bounce-back on Friday night, handling host Bellarmine in a 3-1 victory at Knights Hall. After Rutgers suffered a two-set lead collapse earlier that day against Purdue Fort Wayne, the Scarlet Knights returned to the court and took their first win of 2026, posting set scores of 25-15, 22-25, 25-21, and 25-19.

The match turned on Rutgers’ ability to apply pressure from the service line. Karis Willow and Lily Bolen combined for 12 aces, a total that helped Rutgers dictate first-ball situations and keep Bellarmine from settling into a comfortable passing rhythm.

Rutgers started the way it wanted to, cruising through the first set 25-15. The early margin suggested the plan was working: attack the serve, force higher ball trajectories, and create chances to score before Bellarmine could fully build its offense.

Bellarmine responded in set two with a measure of momentum, winning 25-22 to even the match. The Scarlet Knights still stayed in the fight, trading points and continuing to push the pace, but the Knights found ways to limit Rutgers’ ability to separate by more than a few rallies at a time.

In the third and fourth sets, Rutgers reasserted itself. The Scarlet Knights took the third 25-21, using timely points to close out extended stretches, then finished the match 25-19 in the fourth. With the lead tightened late, Rutgers’ serving pressure remained a consistent theme, helping it earn the final separation it needed.

For Rutgers, the immediate value of the win is less about a single opponent and more about recovery. After experiencing a collapse earlier the same day, the team’s ability to regroup for a second match points to steadier execution when the margin narrows. The next test will be whether Rutgers can carry that serving edge and late-set composure into its following matches.

For Bellarmine, the loss still leaves takeaways. The Knights did manage to swing momentum by taking set two, showing they were capable of answers even under pressure. How they respond in the next outing, particularly on serve-receive against aggressive opponents, may determine whether they can turn competitive sets into wins.