KINGSTON, R.I. - The Bryant University women's volleyball team defeated Rhode Island, 3-0, in its first match of the Ocean State Cup Friday, Sept. 4 at Keaney Gymnasium in Kingston, Rhode Island.
The Bulldogs (2-3) used large runs to take hold of the first two sets and fended off the previously undefeated Rams (3-1) in the third set to complete the sweep.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH THERESA GARLACY:
"So great to win here on Rhode Island's home court, it's a great facility. Very excited to have
Nina Gavin back. She did phenomenal in her first match since last season. She's on a road to recovery and we really used her energy on the court tonight."
"Our setters ran really great tempos, and our middles were able to dominate both blocking and offensively. This really created spaces for our pins to swing and score in the gaps, and our outside hitters did a great job of that as well."
"Carrina Barron was phenomenal on defense. She had some crazy digs with no block up, and our pins, Hannah Jackson especially, had heads-up plays. Overall, a huge team effort and a lot of fun playing this match."
HOW IT HAPPENED:
SET 1- Bryant, 25-22
- The Bulldogs and Rams were deadlocked at 10-10 after 20 rallies.
- Bryant pulled out to a 16-13 edge following a kill from Madison Keem and ace from Kalia Alvarado.
- Rhode Island later found momentum and scored three unanswered points to take a 21-18 advantage.
- Bryant responded with a 6-1 surge featuring kills from Curran, Olatunde and Cara Lewandowski to bring the score to set point, 24-22.
- Carrina Barron delivered an ace to give the Bulldogs set one.
SET 2- Bryant, 25-18
- The Rams held an early 9-6 lead before Bryant reeled off a 9-2 run to take a 15-11 advantage. Brookelyn Talmadge logged two kills and a block assist in that span.
- Rhode Island scored a point the ensuring rally to go down 15-12 but would not threaten any closer.
- Block assists from Talmadge and Jackson extended the Bulldogs lead to five, 22-17, and forced a Rams timeout.
- Bryant outscored Rhode Island 3-1 out of the stoppage to claim the second set. Lewandowski hammered down a kill for the sealing Bulldogs point.
SET 3- Bryant, 25-20
- Rhode Island again held a 9-6 edge to open the set, until a pair of kills from Olatunde and a Rams service error brought the Bulldogs even.
- A kill from Nina Gavin later reclaimed the lead for Bryant at 14-13.
- The Bulldogs pushed their advantage to three, at 18-15, through another kill from Gavin and ace from Madison Koeller.
- Three more kills from Lewandowski down the stretch fueled Bryant towards completing the sweep. Olatunde put away the final point of the match with a kill to cap off her outstanding performance.
STATS AND NOTES:
- Bryant has now beat Rhode Island in seven-straight meetings.
- Gavin notched three kills her in first appearance of the season.
- The Bulldogs hit .315 as a team.
- Lewandowski posted eight kills on a .263 hitting percentage
- Barron registered 14 digs and has recorded 10-or-more digs in three of her four appearances this season.
- Talmadge finished with three block assists.
- Koeller tallied 20 assists and Keem distributed 15 assists.
NEXT UP:
The Bulldogs will face off against Providence in its second match of the Ocean State Cup at Keaney Gymnasium. First serve is set for 1 p.m., and the match will be streamed on ESPN+.
