November 08, 2009

BULLDOGS DROP 3-2 HEARTBREAKER TO FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON ON SENIOR DAY

Boxscore / Photo Gallery

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - In a contest that couldn't have been more evenly matched, the Bryant University volleyball team took Fairleigh Dickinson to five sets after going down 1-0 early, forcing extra points in the final frame before eventually falling, 3-2, at home on Senior Day Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (10-21, 5-8 Northeast Conference) saw five players record double-digit digs, led by freshman Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) who earned one of three double-doubles on the day with her 12 kills and team-best 20 digs. Senior Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie, Minn.) also collected a double-double with 10 assists and 14 digs, while rookie Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) collected her third straight, setting a new career high with a match-best 43 assists and adding 15 digs. The freshman fell just two kills shy of a triple-double, recording eight on the day.

Tied 2-2 in the match, Bryant went up, 6-3, in the deciding set, before the visiting Knights (7-23, 4-10) regrouped to knot the game at 9-9, the first of four-straight points that gave FDU a 12-9 advantage.

But staring a loss straight in face, down, 14-11, Bryant rallied, tying the fifth set at 14-14, thanks to strong serving by Lorenzo. A Mitravich kill gave the home side a 15-14 edge, but FDU's Ali Philbrick evened the score again on the next point.

Amanda Alayon would end the game with two strong serves for the visitors, setting up the kill from teammate Sarah Berkland before a big block from Berkland and Sarah Willey gave the Knights the points they needed to put the game away and take a 3-2 victory with a 17-15 final-set win.

The victory gave FDU the season series, 2-1, with all three contests going to five sets. Sunday's meeting was the fourth-straight faceoff to go all five frames, dating back to the 2008 season.

The Knights took a 1-0 lead early with a 25-18 win in the first set of the match, but fell in the next two as the Bulldogs took 25-14 and 25-18 wins to take a 2-1 lead in the match.

A tightly contested fourth frame saw Bryant claw back to 15-15 after trailing by as many as four, but the Knights would pull away again in the set's final points, winning, 25-22, to force the fifth and deciding set.

On the day, 18 kills from sophomore Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) were a match high, while classmate Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) added 17 and Mitravich chipped in 12 to pace the Bryant offense.

The Bulldogs got hands under 87 total digs to the Knights' 65, also earning more kills than their opponents, to the tune of 67-48. Lorenzo and Scocca each recorded a pair of service aces while Mitravich led the home side with a pair of blocks (1 solo, 1 assist).

The Knights were led by 12 kills apiece from Philbrick and Meaghan Wheeler, while Willey collected 42 helpers and Kelsey Semler registered a match-best 23 digs. Philbrick recorded a double-double for FDU, adding 20 digs to her 12 kills.

The Bulldogs may be done with the 2009 season at home, but they aren't done doing their damage. Bryant returns to the road in search of wins in its final three contests of the year, and will take on Central Connecticut on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. before travelling to St. Francis (NY) (Saturday, Nov. 14, 2 p.m.) and LIU (Sunday, Nov. 15, 12 p.m.) for the final weekend of the 2009 campaign.