Lourdes began the 2019 season at the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic on Thursday evening, falling to tournament host and 22^nd-ranked Bellevue 25-14, 25-9, 25-13 inside of the Lied Activity Center in Bellevue, Neb.
 
The Bruins hit .438 for the match and committed just six attack errors on the night while putting down 48 kills.  Lourdes was held to just 25 kills and a .088 hitting clip.
 
"This definitely wasn't the start we wanted to the year," head coach Greg Reitz said afterwards.  "We didn't play our best volleyball against a very quality opponent in a hostile environment.  We struggled to put pressure on them with our serve and when we did we struggled to take advantage of the free balls."
 
The Gray Wolves jumped in front 5-2 early in the opening set and still led 6-5 when the Bruins went on a 12-3 run, to pull in front for good and take the early lead in the match.  Lourdes led 5-4 in the second before a 12-1 Bellevue spurt allowed the Bruins to take control of the set and build a 2-0 lead in the contest.  The Gray Wolves never led in the third, yielding the first four points before securing the victory with a 9-1 run late in the match.
 
Kylee McBride (Peoria, Ariz./Mountain Ridge H.S.) led Lourdes with seven kills in the match while Alli Plasencio (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic H.S.) tallied 11 digs defensively.
 
Sierra Athen led Bellevue (6-2) with 12 kills while hitting .600 and added 18 digs on defense.
 
Lourdes (0-1) will return to action in the GoSarpy.com Labor Day Classic on Friday with a pair of matches inside the Lied Activity Center.  The Gray Wolves face No. 25 Ottawa (Kan.) at 4 p.m. EDT before battling Morningside in an 8 p.m. EDT contest.