September 7, 2008

BRYANT SWEEPS SHU INVITATIONAL WITH 3-2 WIN OVER HOST SACRED HEART SUNDAY

Freshman Jazmin Stoner and Hilary Andrews named to All-Tournament Team

Boxscore

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Led by double-doubles from freshman Hilary Andrews (Tipp City, Ohio) and sophomore Miranda Kolb (Holt, Mich.), the Bryant University volleyball team completed its sweep of Sacred Heart Invitational competition, toppling host SHU, 3-2, Sunday morning at the Pitt Center.

Despite being led by the Pioneers (3-3) in nearly every statistical category, the Bulldogs continued to prove they had the heart to get the job done, winning their fourth-straight game en route to a 5-1 record in their first season of Division I competition.

In addition to the double-doubles of Andrews (team-high 13 kills, team-high 16 digs) and Kolb (team-high 42 assists and team-high 16 digs), two other freshmen, Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) and Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) recorded big numbers of their own.

Stoner, who along with Andrews was named to the SHU Invitational all-tournament team for their efforts in Bryant's 3-0 weekend, recorded another seven kills with six digs and a block assist.

But it was Scocca who had an even bigger day, recording a monumental five solo blocks with five block assists, all coming at crucial times for the Bulldogs in the five-set victory. The rookie also added four kills in the contest.

Bryant played at the top of its game in set one and three, but dropped the even sets, 25-18 and 25-14 before digging deep in the shortened fifth set, earning a 15-12 win to grab the third victory in two days for the Bulldogs.

The Pioneers were led by 16 kills from Brittany Best and Maile Herthington, as well as 55 assists from Courtney Kidd-Kadlubek and 22 digs from Jessica Colberg.

The Bulldogs return to action Tuesday, Sept. 9, when they play their first non-tournament game of the 2008 season, traveling to Durham, N.H. for a 7:00 p.m. faceoff against the University of New Hampshire.