Bryant welcomes RMU, SFU this weekend

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University volleyball team is set to host a pair of Northeast Conference matchups this weekend at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs (12-16, 6-6 NEC) begin the weekend with a visit from conference foe Robert Morris on Saturday, Nov. 5, with game time set for 1 p.m.  The Colonials (14-13, 9-3 NEC) were off to a slow start this season, losing nine of their first 10 matches, but flipped the switch in mid September en route to winning 13-of-17 matches to climb back over .500. 

Bryant fared well in the first meeting against the Colonials, winning a road match in Moon Township, Pa. less than a month ago.  The Bulldogs began the match dropping the first two sets but stormed back to win three straight to cap the victory.  Seniors Jazmin Stoner (Durnago, Colo.) and Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) combined for 33 kills while Stoner and sophomore Kendall Gaffney (Colorado Springs, Colo.) led the team with 17 and 12 kills, respectively.

The Black and Gold will host another conference rival from the Keystone State, when they square off against Saint Francis (PA) the following afternoon.  The Red Flash (8-19, 3-9 NEC) are coming off a forgettable month of October, losing seven of nine while being swept in three matches.  One of their two wins, however, came when the Red Flash hosted Bryant in early October, as the Bulldogs were unable to complete the weekend sweep in Pennsylvania, falling, 3-2, on the road.  SFU was led by Amanda Zahumensky's team high 17 kills and 12 digs in the win.  For Bryant, Stoner, Scocca, and Gaffney all posted 10 or more kills in the loss. 

The Bulldogs will be looking to extend their current three-match winning streak, as well as move above the .500 mark within the conference heading into the final weekend of the regular season.

Bryant will close out the 2011 campaign on the road after this weekend, taking on conference rivals Long Island and Fairleigh Dickinson on Nov. 12-13.

For continuing coverage of Bryant University volleyball, check back at www.bryantbulldogs.com, and be sure to follow the Bulldogs on Twitter @BryantAthletics.