October 10, 2010

BRYANT DROPS 3-2 DECISION AGAINST LONG ISLAND SUNDAY AFTERNOON AT HOME

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) returned to full force Sunday afternoon, collecting a team-best 13 kills and a match-high five blocks, but the Bryant University volleyball team couldn't outlast Long Island University, dropping the contest, 3-2.

The Bulldogs (14-10, 2-4 Northeast Conference) found themselves in a 2-0 hole out of the gates as the Blackbirds (4-15, 3-2) took 25-21 and 25-23 victories in the opening sets. But Bryant battled back in the next two frames, winning back-to-back 25-23 games to even the score at 2-2 and force the deciding fifth set.

Despite taking a slight edge at the midway point of the shorted fifth game, the Bulldogs couldn't hold off a strong LIU attack, eventually falling, 15-11, and dropping the match in five.

Sophomore setter Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) registered her third-straight double-double and 15th of the year with 49 assists and an impressive 20 digs, also adding three blocks and two aces in the outing. In the third set alone, Lorenzo secured her double-double performance, leading the Bulldogs with 11 assists and 10 digs in the 25-23 win. Scocca collected both of her solo blocks in the frame as well.

Freshman Kaitlyn Klein (Modesto, Calif.) chipped in a double-digit kill total of her own with 12 on the day. Senior Robyn Gardner (Lake Brantley, Fla.) paced four Bulldogs with double-figure digs on the match with a team-best 24.

LIU's Jessica Rice and Breanna Cullity led the contest with 18 kills apiece, while Vanessa Gemignani's 57 assists were also a match best. Artisha Jackson collected 30 digs on defense to go along with 13 kills for her own double-double, and Zuzana Buchlova added 12 kills and 16 digs to her team's totals.

Bryant returns to the court Saturday, Oct. 16 when it travels to Fairfield, Conn. to take on NEC rival Sacred Heart at 2 p.m.