September 5, 2007

BRYANT VOLLEYBALL PICKS UP FIRST WIN OF SEASON, 3-1 OVER AIC

@ Springfield, Mass.
Bryant 3, American International 1
Game scores:  30-24, 27-30, 30-20, 30-16
Records:  Bryant 1-4, 1-0 NE-10;  AIC 0-1, 0-1 NE-10

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.  - The Bryant University women's volleyball team picked up its first win of the 2007 season as the Bulldogs defeated American International College, 3-1 Wednesday night. The match was the season opener for AIC and the Northeast-10 Conference opener for both squads. 

After dropping four tough non-conference matches last weekend in Illinois, Bryant (1-4, 1-0 NE-10) came out firing in the opener, winning 30-24 thanks to a solid .343 hitting percentage.  The Bulldogs had just two errors in the game. 

AIC (0-1, 0-1 NE-10) would hold off Bryant 30-27 in the second, but the Bulldogs would put the match away, winning 30-20 and 30-16 in the fourth to earn the win.  Likica Grceva (Natick, Mass.) torched the Yellow Jackets for 17 kills with a solid .467 hitting percentage.  Junior Monika Sattler (Gruenwald, Germany) added a career-best 13 kills on the night, eclipsing her previous high of 12 set against Saint Rose last season.

Freshman Adrienne Boss (Dracut, Mass.) enjoyed the best match of her young career, hitting .526 with 11 kills and just one error on 19 swings.  Senior Tiffany Garry (Frankfort, Ill.) paced the balanced attack with a season-high 49 assists, but the co-captain was just as effective with her serving ability as Garry recorded seven of Bryant's 10 service aces on the night.  The seven were just two shy of her career best.

The Bulldogs will return to action this Friday and Saturday at the Bentley Invitational in Waltham, Mass. where they'll face C.W. Post, New Haven, Georgian Court and nationally-ranked Central Missouri.