Bryant University

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University women's volleyball team defeated UAlbany in a five-set battle, 3-2, at the Chace Athletic Center on Saturday, Oct. 17 to move to 4-1 in America East play.  

After the Great Danes (5-12, 1-4 America East) narrowly claimed the first set, the Bulldogs (10-13, 4-1 AE) responded by securing a tight second set, 26-24, and dominating the third set, 25-16. UAlbany forced a fifth set before Bryant took the deciding set for its third straight five-set conference victory.  

Kalia Alvarado posted a team-high 16-kill, 12-dig double-double and Hannah Jackson racked up 15 kills on a .375 hitting percentage. Madison Koeller logged a season-high 38 assists.

"Another great gritty team win today with multiple players stepping up. Confidence was high in the fifth set and we stayed aggressive. This team has not peaked yet and continues to find a way to get the job done." 

 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 
SET 1- UAlbany, 25-23 

• Jackson and Alvarado slammed kills in two of three rallies to give the Bulldogs a 13-10 edge. 
• The Great Danes knotted the score at 13-13 and both sides traded points to 17-17.  
• UAlbany used a 6-1 surge to move in front 23-18 and later clinched the set.  

SET 2- Bryant, 26-24 

• Alvarado drilled another kill and Carrina Barron delivered an ace as Bryant used a 4-1 run to lead 15-11. 
• The Bulldogs later scored four unanswered points, featuring kills from Ruth Ochelli, Jackson and Alvarado, to extend their advantage to 21-14. 
• UAlbany reeled off six-straight points to trim their deficit to 23-21, but Bryant ultimately fended off the comeback attempt.  

SET 3- Bryant, 25-16 

• Jackson tacked on another kill and Madison Keem notched an ace to put Bryant ahead 9-4.  
• The Bulldogs grew their advantage to 17-11 following a 4-0 run highlighted by a Koeller ace and Jackson kill.
• Kaitlin Curran put away back-to-back kills to capture the set.  

SET 4- UAlbany, 25-18 

• The Great Danes scored five straight points to jump out to an 8-2 lead.  
• UAlbany widened its advantage to 19-10 through a 7-2 surge.  
• Ochelli, Natalie Ricevuto and Layla Olatunde all came through with kills to fuel a 6-0 Bryant run until UAlbany mounted a 6-2 push to tie the contest. 

SET 5- Bryant, 15-12 

• Kills from Curran, Brookelyn Talmadge, Jackson and Alvarado pulled Bryant in the lead at 6-3.  
• Alvarado connected on two more kills as the Bulldogs built a 12-7 advantage.  
• The Great Danes scored three consecutive points to go down 14-12 then committed an attack error at match-point to give Bryant the win.  

• Curran finished with a 14-kill, 14-dig double-double. The sophomore has totaled eight double-doubles and 12 games of 10 or more kills.  
• Three of Bryant's four conference wins have come in five sets: Binghamton (Oct. 3), New Hampshire (Oct. 9) and UAlbany (Oct. 17). 
• Olatunde totaled 11 kills, the freshman's seventh double-digit kill performance of the season.  
• Claudia Camacho-Castro produced 14 digs in the libero spot the final three sets.  
• The Bulldogs are 11-4 in their last 15 America East matches.  

The Bulldogs will travel to Maryland for a rematch with UMBC on Saturday, Oct. 24. First serve is set for 1 p.m. and the match will be streamed on AE.TV.