Klein paces Bryant in thriller win over RMU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – In her first start of the season, sophomore Kaitlyn Klein (Modesto, Calif.) made all the difference for the Bryant University volleyball team, posting a team-high 17 kills and a .353 attack percentage to lead the Bulldogs to a 3-2 win over Northeast Conference rival Robert Morris Saturday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

The victory completed a season sweep of the Colonials (14-14, 9-4 NEC), who now owe half their conference losses to the Bulldogs (13-16, 7-6) in 2011. Both matches between the teams this season went the full five sets.

Klein added a pair of blocks and three assists to her stellar performance, and her 17 kills were just one shy of both a match and career high for the second-year rightside. She was one of four Bulldogs to record double-digit kills on the day, joined by senior captains Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) and Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.), as well as junior Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.). Stoner added 19 digs to a strong effort to represent the home side's only double-double and one of just two in the contest.

Another key piece to the Bulldogs' win came in the form of a defensive stand from freshman libero Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio). Lohr contributed all over the court for Bryant, putting up a career-high 27 digs and a match- and career-best three aces in the win, including one in the deciding fifth frame.

The Bulldogs fell in the first set, 25-21, to spot Robert Morris the early edge, but came back to take the second frame, 25-20. The third stanza saw the home side take a 2-1 match lead via a hard-fought 25-23 victory, but despite clawing out of a hole to start the fourth, Bryant couldn't finish its visitors off as the Colonials battled for a 27-25 win to knot the match at 2-2.

But while Robert Morris again took an early advantage in the final set, going up, 8-6, Lohr spotted the Bulldogs five points off the serve to take a 12-8 lead that would turn into a 15-11 final and a 3-2 Bryant victory.

The win extended Bryant's winning streak to a now season-high four and also set a new program best for Northeast Conference wins in a season (7).

Scocca recorded a match-high eight blocks and two aces to compliment her 11-kill day, and both teams put up 19 stuffs in the contest. Kendall Gaffney (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded Bryant's only solo block of the outing and had three total blocks on the afternoon to go with 13 digs and nine kills. Junior Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) dished out 35 assists on the afternoon with six kills and an ace.

Lindsey Monger's 18 kills were a match best and paced the visitors, while Hannah Veith also chipped in 15 kills for the Colonials. Monger recorded the contest's other double-double effort, adding a match-best 28 digs. Hannah Hoffman's 50 assists were a high on the day as well.

Bryant will look to a new opponent Sunday afternoon, as the team welcomes NEC member Saint Francis (PA) to the Chace Athletic Center for a 1 p.m. matchup that marks the Bulldogs' 2011 home finale.