SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant volleyball team kicks off their 50^th anniversary celebration this weekend.

The festivities begin on Friday night with the Bulldogs hosting the UNH Wildcats at 7:00 PM.

On Saturday, the day begins with a fun game of volleyball for alumni and their families at the Chace Athletic Center at 10:00 AM, followed by a chance to watch the team practice at 11:00 AM.

Then, the volleyball program will be honored at the Bulldogs football game against Monmouth at 1:00 PM at Beirne Stadium. That evening, a special reunion reception will be held in the Bello Center with cocktail hour at 5:30 PM and dinner at 6:30 PM.

The weekend concludes with the 50^th anniversary match on Sunday against the UMBC Retrievers at 1:00 PM.  

Program Highlights
The Bulldogs have built a talented program at both the Division I and II levels, sitting at 944 all-time wins in program history.

Head coach Theresa Garlacy has been an integral part of the Bulldogs rise to success. She enters her 30^th season as head coach of the Bulldogs, eclipsing 600 career wins last season.

When discussing what Bryant volleyball means to her, Garlacy highlighted, "It's about the relationships the student-athletes have with their families and with the coaches."

According to Garlacy, one of her career highlights includes Bryant's first Division I conference championship in 2018, defeating Sacred Heart to win the NEC conference. Bryant received an NCAA tournament bid, traveling to face No. 2 Minnesota. Despite the loss, it was a meaningful step forward for the program. Garlacy citing, "They knew who Bryant volleyball was by the time we left there."

Prior to Bryant's rise in Division I, they were a perennial threat at the Division II level in the Northeast-10 conference. Garlacy cites a few core memories throughout the 1990s. One of them includes being selected to the NCAA tournament in 1994, her first season as an assistant coach.

Another comes in 1997 when Bryant was the only non-scholarship team selected to the 32-team NCAA tournament.

In 1998, Bryant won the NE-10 conference championship but was snubbed by the committee and left out of the field of the NCAA tournament. They were selected to the ECAC championship, which acted as the NIT championship at the time, and went on to win the title.

Garlacy has witnessed several changes to the game of volleyball during her 30 seasons, like the scoring of the game, the technology used to broadcast the games, and the speed of the game. Despite the rapid evolution of changes, the one constant for her program remains the tight-knit alumni network that is Bryant volleyball.

"The alumni network is the legacy to Bryant volleyball", Garlacy emphasizes. She also stresses, "We support each other in life, not just in volleyball."

She mentions how she is constantly connected to the alumni and will often receive texts from them after a big win or a crushing loss. She admires how they're always checking in to see what you need and how you can rely on them when your life is in crisis, not just when things are going well.

Decorated Alumni – Genevieve Bailey (Bryant, '98)
The program has inducted 12 members into the Bryant Athletics Hall of Fame. One of those members includes Genevieve Bailey (Hall of Fame Class of 2005). She's a dominant setter in Bryant's program history, being named the NE-10 and AVCA regional freshman of the year in 1994 and leading the Bulldogs to their first NCAA tournament appearance. She highlighted that experience as a core memory of her career, citing a step forward for the program and setting new expectations for themselves.

Bailey emphasizes the tight-knit community of the program, "Bryant volleyball is a family to me. It's given me roots…a place to come back to where I am the proudest of myself."

The family aspect continues to be a constant in her life. She makes it a priority to connect with fellow alumni, "The alumni network for Bryant volleyball has had a consistent role in my life since 1998. I visit Mariange Bras (Bryant '97) in Puerto Rico, cheer on Monica Carnevalini (Bryant '99) and her children in Texas, and meet up with Coach Garlacy every time I come home."

Bailey looks forward to connecting with her fellow alums as well as the current team this weekend at the reunion.

Decorated Alumni – Tiffany Garry (Bryant, '08)
Another prominent alum includes Tiffany Garry (Hall of Fame Class of 2017). She's one of the greatest setters to ever play for the Bulldogs, winning NE-10 Setter of the Year three times in her career (2004, 2005, 2007). Garry led the Bulldogs to four NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet 16 her senior year, which she cites as one of her favorite memories in her career.  

She claimed there was something special about Bryant when she visited. The legacy, culture, and the winning attitude that Theresa Garlacy and Ted Garlacy have built stood out to her when choosing to play for Bryant, wanting to carry that torch forward.  

Garry views the 50^th anniversary as a meaningful milestone for the program, "It's not just 50 years of existence; it's 50 years of excellence."

She still stays in touch with fellow alumni, shedding a light on the support system that has been there for her since graduating in 2008. She continues to build relationships with the current teams, offering her help for when they become alumni.

"Only a small percentage of people get the experience of that legacy, that culture", she mentions. She adds how she's friends with many athletes who've played in college and played professionally, and not everyone is fortunate enough to have the same experience like her at Bryant.  

Garry is excited to see her teammates and coaches at the reunion and watch the current team play this weekend.

Decorated Alumni – Kirstyn Sperry (Bryant, 18)
Sperry spent four seasons with the Bulldogs (2014-2018) and was a member of the 2018 NEC conference championship team that earned an NCAA tournament bid to play No. 2 Minnesota. She highlighted this experience as the pinnacle of her career and one of her favorite memories.

She reiterated the winning tradition of the program and how it has had a significant impact on her life, "Bryant volleyball represents a legacy of excellence, integrity, and community. It taught me how to lead with strength and heart and gave me lifelong values that extend far beyond the court."

Sperry still stays in contact with fellow alumni on a regular basis and has made lifelong friends through the program. She mentioned how many of them traveled to Michigan for her wedding last month as well. She's eager to see the alumni and coaches this weekend at the reunion and looks forward to watching the current team in action.

Connecting Current Players and Alumni
This weekend will allow the opportunity for current Bryant players to connect with the alumni.

When asked about what she is most excited about this weekend, Garlacy said, "Having our alumni see the current level of play that our athletes are at, and connecting them."

This weekend will blend different generations of Bryant volleyball together. Garlacy states that despite players not playing with each other at the same time, they're all connected to each other. 

It will be an exciting weekend that will showcase the legacy and the culture of Bryant volleyball that have been developed through its 50 years of excellence.