UNH spoils home opener, drops Bryant, 3-1

WILDCATS SPOIL 2012 HOME OPENER, TOPPLE BULLDOGS, 3-1, TUESDAY NIGHT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Abigail Brinkman recorded 14 kills while Morgan Thatcher picked up 12 as the University of New Hampshire spoiled the Bryant University volleyball team's 2012 home opener, taking a 3-1 win at the Chace Athletic Center Tuesday night.

Junior middle blocker Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) led the Bulldogs (4-7), posting seven kills and a match-high .316 attack percentage, also registering the team's top blocking mark at four stuffs. Senior captain Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) matched Clyburn's blocking number and added six kills of her own as the Black and Gold saw extended play from rookie setter Jana Kmec (Stratford, Conn.), freshman middle blocker Taylor Onoyan (Crystal Lake, Ill.) and junior setter Leigh Fishback (Edmonds, Wash.) for the first time this season.

Kmec got the starting nod and picked up a team-high 13 assists while the trio played in all four sets. Kmec added 12 digs and would be joined by Fishback as the only Bulldogs to record double-doubles on the contest, as the latter would end the match with 10 helpers and 14 digs. Senior Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) made the move to libero for the home side, totaling 25 digs with an ace in her debut at the position.

Bryant started out strong, taking a 1-0 lead on the visiting Wildcats (5-6) with a 25-23 victory in the opening set. UNH would tie the game at 1-1 after a 25-20 win in the next frame and continued on for 25-18 and 25-13 victories to take the match by the 3-1 final.

Wildcat setter Taylor Dunklau posted a match-best 40 assist on the contest, also chipping in 10 digs, an ace and a contest-high five blocks. UNH won the blocking battle, while Jessie Schnepp recorded the top digs number on the night with 26.

The Bulldogs return to action Friday and Saturday, when the Black and Gold host the Hampton Inn Invitational at the Chace Athletic Center. Bryant welcomes Northern Kentucky (Friday, 4 p.m.), Akron (Friday, 8 p.m.) and Holy Cross (Saturday, 7 p.m.) to Smithfield to partake in the six-match annual tournament.