October 06, 2010

GAFFNEY'S CAREER HIGH NOT ENOUGH TO PUSH BULLDOGS PAST CRUSADERS, FALL TO HOLY CROSS, 3-2, WEDNESDAY NIGHT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Rookie Kendall Gaffney (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the match with a career-high 20 kills and recorded her third double-double of the season while sophomore setter Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) put up a double-double effort of her own, but it wouldn't be enough to get the Bryant University volleyball team the win, falling to Holy Cross on the road, 3-2.

Gaffney led four Bulldogs – each of them freshmen – who collected double-figure kill totals, as classmates Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.), Kaitlyn Klein (Modesto, Calif.) and Nicole Percz (Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.) each registered 10 on the night. Gaffney's double-double was completed by 11 digs, while Lorenzo led the match with 49 assists and chipped in 18 digs for her 13th double-double of the year.

Holy Cross (9-13) came out strong to take the first set, 25-22, but the Bulldogs (13-9) answered with an extra-points win of their own, 26-24, in set two. Bryant's 25-19 third-set victory gave the visitors a 2-1 edge, but not for long.

The Crusaders came back with a big fourth-set win, 25-23, and carried that momentum into the deciding game for a 20-18 set victory and a 3-2 win on the night.

Senior Robyn Gardner (Lake Brantley, Fla.) tied Holy Cross's Angela Chisholm with 22 digs to lead the match, while five Bulldogs dug their way into double figures. Megan Lynch recorded 19 kills to pace the home side, adding 17 digs for a double-double of her own.

Percz had a big day on the block, putting up two solo blocks and four more block assists for a match-best six on the day, while Bryant outblocked Holy Cross, 20-11 on the five-set affair. Callie Black and Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) each recorded five blocks for the Crusaders and the Bulldogs, respectively.

Bryant must now return to Northeast Conference play, where it will face a pair of tough opponents this weekend for Homecoming. The Bulldogs first host Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday at 5 p.m. in the Dig Pink game before welcoming Long Island to the Chace Athletic Center for a 1 p.m. matchup on Sunday.