SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant women's volleyball team were swept by the St. Thomas Tommies on Friday night. It was the Bulldogs first home match as hosts of the Bryant Invitational tournament.
Game Information
Final: St. Thomas 3, Bryant 0
Records: Bryant (3-5, 0-0 America East), St. Thomas (5-3, 0-0 Summit League)
Location: Chace Athletic Center, Smithfield, R.I.
COACH GARLACY'S COMMENTS
"A hard-fought battle tonight between two gritty defensive teams. I thought we got more comfortable as the game went on."
HOW IT HAPPENED
- SET 1 – Both teams traded points to begin the first set. The Bulldogs got a great start from London Hunt who recorded a kill and a service ace to tie the score at seven a piece. Then, the Bulldogs pulled in front as Ruth Ochelli notched two kills, Arianna Ugolini had another, and Madison Koeller notched a service ace to give the Bulldogs the 10-9 lead. Arianna Ugolini then added two more kills and Natalie Ricevuto added one to tie the score 14-14. The Bulldogs capitalized off three service errors from the Tommies as the score was knotted up again, this time at nineteen a piece. Bryant got a big momentum swing from a combined block by London Hunt and Kaitlin Curran to trim the deficit to 23-21, but it wasn't enough as the Tommies won the first set 25-21.
- SET 2 – London Hunt picked up right where she left off in the second set. She combined for a block with Lea Mackey and rattled off two kills to put the Bulldogs in front 5-2. Natalie Ricevuto piled up three kills for Bryant, but St. Thomas then went on a dominant 16-7 run to take the 18-12 lead. The Bulldogs got a late spark as Kaitlin Curran hammered a kill to cut the deficit to 18-15, but the Tommies polished off the second set with a 25-16 victory.
- SET 3 – The Tommies raced out to an 11-7 lead, but the Bulldogs got some much-needed firepower from Arianna Ugolini who recorded back-to-back kills to trim the deficit to 11-9. Bryant then tied the score at thirteen a piece as Arianna Ugolini tallied another kill and Ruth Ochelli and Brookelyn Talmadge each added one, capped off by a service ace from Arianna Ugolini. The Bulldogs tied the score again later in the set as Ruth Ochelli continued her impressive performance with back-to-back kills and Kaitlin Curran added another to knot things up at twenty-two a piece. Bryant couldn't hold on however as St. Thomas closed out the third set 25-23 to secure the sweep.
STATS
MATCH NOTES
- This was the first-ever meeting between Bryant and St. Thomas in women's volleyball.
- Madison Koeller has now recorded double-digit assists in 7 out of 8 matches this season.
- This was the sixth time Madison Keem has recorded double-digits this season, she tallied 12 tonight.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs take on the Army Black Knights tomorrow afternoon (Sep. 13) on Day 2 of the Bryant Invitational. First serve is at 1:00 PM at the Chace Athletic Center.
