Bulldogs fall to host Army, 3-1, in final match of the West Point Invitational Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team stole the third game from tournament host Army Saturday afternoon in the closer of the West Point Invitational, but the Black Knights rode 23 kills from Ariana Mankus to a 3-1 victory and remain undefeated on the season.

After falling into a 2-0 hole to open the contest, the Bulldogs (1-2) raced out to an 11-3 lead in the third game, keeping the momentum all the way through an eventual 25-17 set win to close the match score to 2-1. But Army (3-0) came roaring back in the fourth, capping the match with a 25-19 win in the final frame for the 3-1 margin.

Senior captain Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.), who would be named to the West Point Invitational All-Tournament Team for her efforts, again led the offense with a team-best 12 kills, her third-straight match at the top of the Bulldog kill charts. Sophomore Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) recorded 10 kills in her best match of the young 2011 season, while junior Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) totaled 70 digs on the three-match tournament (team-high 17 against Army) to join Stoner on the all-tournament squad. Junior Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) dished out 35 assists in a losing effort, while all four recorded an ace in the match.

Stoner and co-captain Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) each put up a trio of blocks, while sophomore Mariah Burgess (Urbana, Ill.) registered the team's only solo block of the afternoon. The Black Knights outblocked the Bulldogs, 15-7.

On the three-match tournament, Stoner collected a team-high 40 kills, followed by 25 and 23 for Clyburn and Scocca, respectively. The Bulldogs finished with 17 aces and 34 total blocks as a team, paced by Scocca's 10 (1 solo).

The Bulldogs next return to the court at the Denver University Tournament, where they will kick off weekend play with a 2:00 p.m. match against Air Force on Friday, Sept. 2.