September 19, 2009

UNDERCLASSMAN TRIO LEADS BRYANT PAST FDU, 3-2, SATURDAY AFTERNOON, BULLDOGS FALL TO LEHIGH, 3-0, IN EARLY MATCH

Boxcore vs. Lehigh
Boxscore vs. FDU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Double-doubles from freshman Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) and sophomore Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) led the Bryant University volleyball team to a 1-1 split in the final day of the Columbia Tournament, as the Bulldogs took a 3-2 win over conference foe Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday afternoon after falling to Lehigh University, 3-0, to open the day.

Sophomore Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) was again instrumental in the Bulldogs' (3-9) victory, collecting 20 kills against the Knights to go along with a game-high 12 in the loss to the Mountain Hawks.

In the first match of the afternoon, the Bulldogs kept it close despite a three-set loss. Bryant fell by a 25-23 score in the first set before dropping consecutive sets, 25-20, to the Mountain Hawks (7-6). Stoner chipped in 10 kills to add to Scocca's 12 while Lehigh was led by 12 and 10 kills by Angelika Kopacz and Brittany Reichwein, respectively.

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs got off to a strong start, taking the first set, 25-21. But the Knights (3-12) would take back-to-back sets by that same score for a 2-1 match lead. Bryant would even up the score in the fourth, though, with a 25-22 topping of its Northeast Conference opponent, forcing a deciding fifth set.

And with the match on the line, the Bulldogs came up big. That result would be apparent from the get-go, as Bryant never trailed in winning the decider, 15-9.

Junior libero Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.) served the Bulldogs to four-straight points mid-set, followed by a key block from Scocca and senior setter Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie, Minn.) to give the Black and Gold a 13-7 lead. But FDU would knock off back-to-back points of its own to bring the score to 13-9.

But after a Bryant timeout and subsequent kill from Mitravich -- she would have a career-high 15 in the match -- an FDU attack error gave the Bulldogs the 3-2 match win.

Stoner and Mitravich each recorded double-doubles in the nightcap, with Stoner registering 13 kills and 11 digs and Mitravich collecting 15 kills with 15 digs. Scocca led the side with 20 kills and seven block assists. On the day, the trio would all record 20 or more kills, while Stoner served up five aces and Mitravich collected 20 digs. Scocca would end the day with 10 total blocks.

Defensively, Gardner's 25 digs against FDU were a game best and she recorded 40 on the day with four service aces. The setting pair of Geonnotti and fellow senior Adriana Fuertes (Miramar, Puerto Rico) each collected 41 assists on the afternoon, with Geonnotti also registering 16 digs and four block assists.

Bryant finishes the tournament 1-2 after Friday's heatbreaker against host Columbia, 3-2. Scocca and Stoner were named to the all-tournament team for their weekend efforts.

The Bulldogs will now return home to host the University of Hartford on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. Bryant is still in search of its first win at the Chace Athletic Center and will have a number of chances as the Bulldogs stay home for the next five contests.