September 10, 2010

SCOCCA SHINES, BULLDOGS EARN PAIR OF WINS TO OPEN BRYANT INVITATIONAL FRIDAY NIGHT

SCOCCA POSTGAME INTERVIEW AFTER NAVY MATCH

STONER POSTGAME INTERVIEW AFTER MANHATTAN MATCH

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) put on an impressive display in the first day of 2010 Bryant Invitational action, posting 39 kills in a pair of matches to lead the Bulldog volleyball team to a sweep of Navy and Manhattan College Friday.

Scocca averaged 4.88 kills per game and averaged a .387 hitting percentage while serving up seven aces in a pair of matches as the Bulldogs (6-3) topped Navy, 3-0, and beat Manhattan in a five-set thriller, 3-2.

The Bulldogs opened the tournament with a strong showing against Navy in the afternoon game, needing only three sets to earn the win.

Scocca was the story of the game, collecting an impressive 19 kills to lead the Bulldogs to the victory, and was the only player on either side to record double-digit kills. Her .517 hitting percentage was tops in the tournament on the day (three matches) and the junior posted four aces in the contest, including back-to-back perfect serves in the first set.

Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) followed her classmate with eight kills, while Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) recorded her sixth double-double of the year with a match-best 26 assists and 10 digs. Senior Robyn Gardner (Lake Brantley, Fla.) led the Black and Gold defensively with 16 digs, but it was Navy's Holly Berger who would collect 20 to pace the match.

The Bulldogs rarely trailed despite a number of close games, including a 25-23 victory in the decisive third set. Nicole Percz (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) put up five blocks, four of them assists, to lead the match, while sophomore Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) recorded a quartet of block assists as well.

Bryant's best game came in the second set, when the team posted a .308 hitting percentage.

But the Bulldogs' second match of the day was a different story, as they fought through an evenly matched contest against a scrappy Manhattan (1-5) side, needing all five sets to pull out the victory and earn a sweep on the day.

Scocca shone again in the nightcap, collecting 20 kills for a .304 hitting percentage, and was joined in the double-digits by teammates Kendall Gaffney (Colorado Springs, Colo.) (15) and Stoner (11). Gardner had her best outing of the season so far, picking up 25 digs and was also one of three Bulldogs with double-digit defensive stats.

Lorenzo and Stoner each also registered more than 10 kills, both recording double-doubles in the process, as Lorenzo put up a match-best 49 assists to go with 11 digs and Stoner added 12 to her 11 kills on the night.

Against the Jaspers, Bryant rebounded from a set-one loss (25-23) to earn a narrow victory in the second frame (25-23) to even the score at 1-1. Manhattan took back the lead in the third, but the Bulldogs closed out the five-set affair with a 25-18 win and a 15-12 victory in the deciding set.

The Bulldogs will return to the court on Saturday, taking on Holy Cross at noon and wrapping up 2010 Bryant Invitational action at 7 p.m. with a bout against Boston College. The Crusaders topped the Eagles, 3-2, in Friday action.