Bryant University

QUEENS, N.Y. - The Bryant University women's volleyball team fell to Rutgers in a five-set thriller, 3-2, on Friday, Sept. 18 in its first match of the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic at Carnesecca Arena.  

The Bulldogs (5-9) clinched the first two sets before the Scarlet Knights (8-2) captured the final three.  

Kalia Alvarado registered an 18-dig, 11-kill double-double while Kaitlin Curran posted a 13-dig, 12-kill double-double.  

"Gritty match today, out digging Rutgers and hitting around its big block. First contact was excellent, allowing our setters to mix up the offense. Great learning experience." 

 
HOW IT HAPPENED: 

SET 1- Bryant, 25-17 

• The Bulldogs jumped out to a 10-5 lead behind a pair of kills from Alvarado and lone kills from Curran, Madison Koeller, Brookelyn Talmadge, Nina Gavin and Layla Olatunde.  
• Rutgers trimmed its deficit to 13-10, but Bryant scored in five of the next seven rallies to extend their advantage to 18-12. Alvarado added another kill in that stretch.  
• The Bulldogs closed the set with a 5-1 run as Koeller delivered a service ace at set point.  

SET 2- Bryant, 25-23 

• Bryant carried their momentum over, building an 11-6 edge following a Talmadge kill. 
• The Scarlet Knights fought back, knotting the score at 17-17 then taking a 19-17 lead that forced a Bryant timeout.  
• Rutgers held a 23-20 advantage until the Bulldogs rattled off five straight points to claim the set. Curran and Olatunde both logged kills and block assists during the run.  

SET 3- Rutgers, 25-12 

• Rutgers used a 5-0 surge to claim a 12-5 lead.  
• The Scarlet Knights later scored five of six points to grow their margin to 18-8.  
• After going up 20-9, Rutgers tallied five points out of a Bryant timeout to secure its first set.  

SET 4- Rutgers, 27-25 

• Hannah Jackson put away three kills and Gavin added two to give to give Bryant a 15-9 lead. 
• Rutgers stormed back and eventually tied the score at 24-24.  
• Curran powered down a kill to put the Bulldogs at set-point, but the Scarlett Knights scored three-straight points to force a fifth and final set.  

• Rutgers strung together four straight points to open with an 8-5 edge.  
• The Bulldogs brought themselves down 11-9 after kills from Curran and Koeller.  
• The Scarlett Knights did not let Bryant threaten any closer, winning the five-set thriller.  

 STATS AND NOTES: 

• Koeller notched a 23-assist, 17-dig double-double.  
• Three Bulldogs recorded double-doubles in a single match for the first time this season. 
• Talmadge recorded nine kills and four block assists for 11 total points. 
• Jackson tallied nine kills and Olatunde finished with seven kills.  
• Bryant produced a season-high 72 digs.  

Bryant will face St. John's tonight (Sept. 18) at Carnesecca Arena in its second match of the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic. First serve is set for 7 p.m. and the match will be streamed on STJ-TV.