September 14, 2010

BIG GREEN SNAP BULLDOGS' WIN STREAK, TOP BRYANT AT HOME, 3-1, TUESDAY

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore setter Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) recorded her fifth-consecutive double-double while junior Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) scored on 15 kills and added 12 digs, but errors proved costly for the Bryant University volleyball team, who fell to Dartmouth, 3-1, Tuesday night at the Chace Athletic Center.

Stoner's 15 kills were a team best, while reigning Northeast Conference Player of the Week Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) chipped in 12 of her own, but both were topped by an impressive performance by Big Green (7-0) rookie Annie Villanueva, who collected 17 kills on the day at a match-best .359 clip.

Defensively, a stellar outing from visiting libero Amber Bryant – who amassed 40 digs in the four-game affair – paced the match, while setter Kendall Houston recorded Dartmouth's only double-double of the contest with a match-high 38 assist and 13 digs.

The Bulldogs (8-4) came out sluggish in the first game, dropping the set, 25-13, before powering back to a Game 2 victory, 25-20, on the back of four kills, three blocks and an ace from Scocca.

But Bryant couldn't keep the pace up after a tiring four-match, two-day tournament three days earlier, falling in the final two games, 25-20 and 25-18, to take a loss for the first time in six outings.

Lorenzo's 33 assists drove the Bulldogs' offense on the night, while 22 digs from senior captain Robyn Gardner (Lake Brantley, Fla.) led the home side defensively. She was one of four Bulldogs to record double-digit digs.

Scocca collected a match-best eight blocks on the night, teaming up with sophomore Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) on four occasions to record a point in the contest. Kaup finished the day with four block assists while Lorenzo added five to her double-double effort. Kelsey Johnson's six stuffs led the Big Green on the evening.

Bryant will return to the court this Friday and Sunday in the West Point Challenge Weekend, where the team will face off against Army, Air Force, Hofstra and Buffalo.