SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant volleyball team clinched a share of the America East regular season title for the first time in program history with a Senior Night sweep over NJIT on Friday night. It marked the third regular season title in the Division I era for Bryant.
Arianna Ugolini,
Maeve Voltz,
Lea Mackey,
Ana Fuertes-Brito,
London Hunt, and
Melis Isik all earned a win in their final home match at the Chace Athletic Center.
Match Information
Final: Bryant 3, NJIT 0
Records: Bryant (16-11, 7-3 America East), NJIT (5-21, 1-9 America East)
Location: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, R.I.
COACH GARLACY'S COMMENTS
"Our seniors outperformed even our greatest expectations. We hit at our highest percentage rate of the season. What a great team win earning the title of America East co-champions. So proud of this legacy team!"
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- SET 1 – The Bulldogs edged the Highlanders 25-22 in the first set. One of the turning points in the set came in the middle stages, with Bryant going on a 4-0 run to take the 17-15 lead, highlighted by a pair of kills from Maeve Voltz and a kill each from Arianna Ugolini and Melis Isik. The Bulldogs then extended their lead to 23-19, led by two kills from Ugolini, and a kill and an ace from Kaitlin Curran. Bryant polished off the set with kills from Lea Mackey and Ugolini to seal the first set.
- SET 2 – Bryant carried over the momentum from the first set, winning it 25-15. The Bulldogs were in total control, racing out to a dominant 15-9 lead, capped off with a pair of kills from Ugolini. Bryant continued to stay in front, pushing their lead to 21-12, led by kills from Voltz, Ugolini, and Isik, with Claudia Camacho-Castro adding an ace. The Bulldogs closed it out with London Hunt and Ugolini each pounding a kill to earn the second set victory.
- SET 3 – The Bulldogs earned the 25-21 third set win. Bryant jumped out to a 14-8 lead, sparked by a trio of kills by Curran and a pair from Lea Mackey. Bryant then extended their lead to 19-11, led by a pair of aces from Carrina Barron. The Highlanders stayed alive by cutting the deficit to 23-20. Bryant took care of business by utilizing kills from Curran and Hunt to seal the Senior Night victory in straight sets.
STATS
MATCH NOTES
- The Bulldogs earned the most America East regular season conference wins in program history with seven.
- Bryant finishes with a 7-4 overall home record and a 4-1 home conference record at the Chace Athletic Center.
- Arianna Ugolini has 15 games with 15+ kills this season.
- London Hunt now has 19 games with multiple blocks this season.
- Kaitlin Curran finished with 11 kills and had a career night with no errors and her highest hitting percentage (.786) of her career.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will battle the UAlbany Great Danes next Friday (Nov. 21) in the America East semifinal. First serve is at 8:00 PM at the Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore, M.D., hosted by the No. 1 seed UMBC.
