VB takes season opener in 3-2 comeback

BULLDOGS COME FROM BEHIND TO STUN TOURNAMENT HOST COLGATE, 3-2, IN 2012 SEASON OPENER

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team overcame an 0-2 deficit, winning the final three sets to stun tournament host Colgate Friday night in the 2012 season opener, 3-2.

The match was the first of three in the weekend-long Colgate Classic, as the Bulldogs (1-0) rode a contest-high 13 kills from rookie Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) and 12 more from junior Kaitlyn Klein (Modesto, Calif.) to the come-from-behind victory. Lindsay Young paced the Raiders (0-1) with 11 kills on the night, while Michelle McCarthy was the final double-digit kill producer in the outing with 10.

Senior captain Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) picked up a game-best 14 digs and served up a team-high four aces, while co-captain Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) dished out 39 of the team's 45 assists and added seven kills and 10 digs to a strong 2012 debut effort.

Junior Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) and sophomore Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) matched Lorenzo's kill total, while senior captain Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) paced the contest with eight blocks in the season-opening win.

The Bulldogs put up 11 aces on the match to Colgate's eight, though Raider libero Caitlin Cremin recorded a contest-best five of those for the home side, also registering a team-high 11 digs. Kaylee Fifer doled out 25 assists while Jackie Macy contributed 18 more. Liz Karnes led the hosts at the net with six blocks and posted the match's highest hitting percentage at .533 (nine kills in 15 attempts).

Six of the nine Bulldogs to participate put up multi-block outings and five different players recorded at least one service ace. All but a single Bulldog earned at least one kill.

After falling behind, 25-15 and 25-14, over the first two sets, Bryant cut Colgate's lead in half with a 25-21 win in set three. The Bulldogs took the fourth set, 25-17, to knot the score at 2-2 and went on to win the tie-breaking third frame in extra points, 18-16.

The Bulldogs return to action Saturday morning, when they take on Syracuse University at 10 a.m. Bryant wraps up Colgate Classic action Saturday afternoon with a 4:30 meeting with the University of Illinois-Chicago.