November 7, 2009

BRYANT FALLS TO SACRED HEART, 3-0, SATURDAY TO OPEN SEASON'S FINAL HOME WEEKEND

Boxscore

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Sophomore Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) put up 11 kills to lead the Bulldogs Saturday against Sacred Heart, but the Bryant University volleyball team would be overmatched by the powerful Pioneers, falling, 3-0, Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs (10-20, 5-7 Northeast Conference) held a lead just twice throughout the contest, the first time coming to open the match. Bryant would maintain a lead through much of the first set, going up 4-0 before allowing a Pioneer point and riding that advantage deep into the frame. But after Sacred Heart (20-9, 10-3) called a timeout down, 20-15, the Pioneers came storming back, knotting the set at 20-20 before eventually overtaking the Bulldogs in extra points, 26-24.

Bryant wouldn't again come as close for the remainder of the match, as Sacred Heart won out, taking 25-14 and 25-19 wins in the final two sets.

Rookie Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) shined in the setter position despite the loss, collecting her second-straight double-double with 18 assists and a match-high 12 digs. Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) also recorded double-digit digs with 10 and chipped in six kills.

Bryant excelled on the block in the match, getting 28 total blocks with just one error, led by a contest-high eight from sophomore Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.). Mitravich added seven block assists of her own while fellow freshman Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) collected five. In all, six Bulldogs earned at least two blocks on the day.

The Pioneers' Brittany Best paced the match with 15 kills, doing the bulk of Sacred Heart's offensive damage. Best's 12 digs gave her the Pioneers' only double-double of the afternoon while Jessica Colberg chipped in 12 digs of her own. Sacred Heart also did well at the net, collecting 23 total blocks.

The Bulldogs return to action Sunday when they host Fairleigh Dickinson in their final home contest of the 2009 season. Bryant would win the season series against the Knights with a victory at home, as the teams have split their two previous meetings. Sunday will also serve as 2009 Senior Day with the match slated to begin at 1 p.m.