October 02, 2009
BULLDOG VOLLEYBALL FALLS IN NEC
OPENER, 3-0, TO BLUE DEVILS FRIDAY NIGHT
Boxscore
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - A frenetic pace and an abundance of errors
plagued the Bulldogs in their Northeast Conference opener Friday
night, as the Bryant University volleyball team fell to Central
Connecticut State University, 3-0, at the Chace Athletic Center.
The Bulldogs (5-12, 0-1 NEC) were paced by nine kills from
senior Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie, Minn.),
while the contest highlighted a career night for rookie setter
Samantha Whitham (South Weymouth, Mass.) and the
collegiate debut of touted setter Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence,
Mass.).
Bryant was plagued by errors from the outset, falling into a 4-0
hole by way of four-consecutive errors to open the first set. The
Blue Devils (8-8, 3-0 NEC) would take a quick victory, 25-10, as
the Bulldogs collected just a trio of kills with 15 attack errors.
In the second set, Bryant would up its game, settling in to a
new rotation that included recently eligible Lorenzo. Sophomore
Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) collected four
kills while the Bulldogs registered all six of their match blocks
in the set, including two solo blocks and a block assist from
Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.).
Bryant's play improved considerably in the third, thanks to 12
team kills and 21 team digs, but ultimately, the Bulldogs would
fall, 25-17, in both of the final two sets.
On the day, Whitham collected a career-high 14 assists, while
junior libero Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.) led
the Bulldogs with 15 digs. Stoner registered seven kills on the
night with Scocca collected just six. Freshman Emily Kaup
(Chandler, Ariz.) recorded the Bulldogs' only ace, while
Lorenzo recorded two assists and a pair of digs in her collegiate
debut.
The Blue Devils were led by 10 kills and four blocks from Jamie
Baumert, while Amanda Bayer collected a game-high 27 assists and
Kaitlin Petrella registered a match-best 17 digs.
The Bulldogs now embark on their longest road stretch of the
season, spending the next 15 days and four matches on the road
before returning to Smithfield, R.I. for an NEC doubleheader with
LIU and Quinnipiac on Oct. 17. Bryant will face off against
Providence College in its next bout, Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 7:00 p.m.
