Saturday, September 05, 2009
BULLDOGS CLINCH FIRST WIN OF SEASON, 3-2, AGAINST PROVIDENCE,
FALL TO BUCKNELL, 3-1, IN MARIST TOURNAMENT SATURDAY
Boxscore vs.
Providence / Boxscore vs. Bucknell
SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University volleyball team earned
its first victory of the season Saturday morning against Providence
College, 3-2, before falling to Bucknell University, 3-1, in the
afternoon game at the Marist "Volley in the Valley" Tournament.
The 3-2 win over the Friars (2-3) came in the opening game of
the two-day weekend tournament. The Bulldogs (1-4) were led by a
breakout day from sophomore middle hitter Maria Scocca
(Melrose, Mass.), who recorded 29 kills in the match.
Scocca would pace the Bulldog offense on the day, totaling 40 kills
across the pair of matches. Scocca would also lead Bryant in
blocks, registering 10 in total, six in the outing against PC.
Classmate Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) also
recorded double-digit wins in both contests, collecting 12 against
the Friars before getting 10 against Bucknell in the afternoon
game.
Junior libero Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.)
collected 18 digs in both matches to lead the Bulldogs defensively,
while seniors Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie,
Minn.) and Adriana Fuertes (Miramar, Puerto
Rico) continued to split the setting duties. Geonnotti
would finish the day with 48 assists while Fuertes would collect
49.
In the first match of the weekend, the Bulldogs went down, 1-0,
in the first set, 25-23, before winning the next two, 25-22 and
25-18. Providence would return the favor, taking the fourth set,
25-20, but it was only a matter of time until the Bulldogs clinched
the win in the fifth, 15-8.
The Friars were led by 10 kills from Lauren Fletcher and 29
assists from Carly Morrison.
But Bryant struggled in the second match against Patriot League
opponent Bucknell, as the Bison (3-2) used double-digit kill days
from Kaitlin Segal (13) and Heidi Kamp (14) to take the 3-1
victory.
The teams traded sets to open the contest - Bucknell took set
one, 25-22, before Bryant took the second set, 25-17 - but the
Bulldogs would fall far short in the third, losing, 25-12. And as
hard as the Bulldogs fought to get back in it in the fourth set,
they would eventually fall, 25-22.
The Bulldogs have one more chance at leaving Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
with a winning weekend record, as Bryant returns to the court
Sunday, Sept. 6 to close out the tournament with a faceoff against
host Marist at 2 p.m.
