NEWARK, N.J. – The Bryant volleyball team picked up their second straight victory in straight sets on Friday night at NJIT. The Bulldogs used 14 service aces to power past the Highlanders.

Arianna Ugolini surpassed 1,000 career kills as a Bulldog in the win. She entered the night needing seven kills to achieve the milestone and finished with 12 kills.

Match Information
Final: Bryant 3, NJIT 0
Records: Bryant (12-9, 4-1 America East), NJIT (4-16, 0-5 America East)
Location: Wellness and Events Center, Newark, N.J.

COACH GARLACY'S COMMENTS
"We got off to a slow start but fought back to take back the first set. We served aggressively and were able to be in system with consistent passing."

"Madison Koeller did a great job feeding the middles and Lea Mackey went in to close it out with a big rip on match point."

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• SET 1 – The Highlanders led by as many as nine to begin the match, racing out to a dominant 13-4 lead. Bryant responded by cutting the deficit to 13-8, courtesy of a kill from Madison Koeller, and three consecutive service aces from Arianna Ugolini. The Bulldogs maintained their momentum, going on an impressive 14-8 run to take the 22-21 lead, highlighted by a trio of service aces from Nina Gavin, a trio of kills from Brookelyn Talmadge, and a pair of kills from Kaitlin Curran. The Bulldogs finished off the first set 25-23, as Kaitlin Curran added another kill and Ruth Ochelli delivered the knockout blow to win the first set.
• SET 2 – Bryant got off to a 10-7 lead in the second set. Arianna Ugolini piled up a trio of kills and Kaitlin Curran added a pair. Arianna Ugolini continued her impressive performance, tallying her 1,000^th career kill as a Bulldog. Despite a pushback from NJIT, Bryant maintained their lead as London Hunt pounded a pair of kills to put them up 21-19. The dominant night continued for Arianna Ugolini, adding a service ace and a pair of kills to seal the second set 25-23.
• SET 3 – The Bulldogs opened the floodgates in the third set, racing out to a 10-4 lead, powered by a 6-0 run led by four service aces from Claudia Camacho-Castro. Bryant then stretched their lead to 18-10, with Ruth Ochelli pounding a pair of kills. The Bulldogs closed in on the set with a service ace from Arianna Ugolini and a kill from Kaitlin Curran to take the 24-13 lead. Lea Mackey finished off the match with a powerful strike to give Bryant the win in straight sets.

STATS

• Arianna Ugolini finished tied for a game-high 12 kills. She recorded a game-high 12 digs.
• Madison Koeller tallied a game-high 33 assists.
• Claudia Camacho-Castro and Arianna Ugolini tied with a game-high five service aces.
• London Hunt finished with a game-high 4 total blocks.

MATCH NOTES

• Arianna Ugolini surpassed 1,000 career kills as a Bulldog. She's now the fifth player in Bryant Division I history to reach that milestone.
• Ugolini recorded her sixth double-double of the season, posting 12 kills and 12 digs.
• Madison Koeller now has 10 games this season with 30+ assists.
• London Hunt now has 13 games this season with multiple blocks.
• Claudia Camacho-Castro recorded five service aces for the second time this season.
• Bryant has won 9 out of its last 11 matches. 
• With UMBC idle tonight, Bryant moves into sole possession of first place in the America East.

NEXT UP
The Black and Gold await their final non-conference matchup on Tuesday (Oct.21), on the road against the Manhattan Jaspers. First serve is at 6:00 PM in Riverdale, N.Y.