October 17, 2010

BULLDOGS FIGHT BACK BUT CAN'T OVERCOME TERRIERS, FALL ON ROAD, 3-2

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) returned to the Bryant lineup with a bang, recording a team-best 18 kills, while sophomore Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) and senior Robyn Gardner (Lake Brantley, Fla.) chipped in match highs of their own, but it wouldn't be enough to earn the win as the Bulldogs fell to St. Francis (NY), 3-2, Sunday on the road.

Gardner's 27 digs paced the match defensively, while Lorenzo recorded her 16th double-double of the season with a match-best 51 assists and 10 kills, also serving up a team-best three aces and posting a side-high three blocks. Anisa Lila led the match with 24 kills for St. Francis (NY) (7-14, 3-5 Northeast Conference), while teammate Marina Georgieva added 20 kills of her own in the five-game affair.

Bryant (14-12, 2-6) traded sets to start off the contest, winning the second game, 25-19, to knot the match at 1-1. St. Francis (NY) took game three in extras, 26-24, but a 25-18 Bulldog win in the fourth forced the deciding frame, a set Bryant would lose, 15-10.

Four Bulldogs recorded double-figure kills, as junior Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) tied Lorenzo's 10 and rookie Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) added 11 in four games, making just a single error in 15 attempts for a match-best .667 attack percentage.

Gardner chipped in Bryant's only other ace on the day for four in total, but it couldn't hold up to the Terriers' impressive 17 aces in the match. Maria Kashvelova led the way with five, Thalita Paldino registered four, and four others collected a pair of perfect serves.

Bryant returns home for a five-match homestand to close out October action beginning with a matchup against Providence College on Wednesday, Oct. 20 (7 p.m.).