Bulldogs open NEC slate at home vs. SHU

PIONEERS COME TO SMITHFIELD FOR BULLDOGS' NEC HOME OPENER SATURDAY (1P)

The Bryant University volleyball team returns to the Chace Athletic Center for its 2012 Northeast Conference home opener Saturday as the Bulldogs host league foe Sacred Heart University at 1 p.m.

The Bulldogs (5-12, 0-2 NEC) are coming off a tough three-game road trip, falling to Hartford, Robert Morris and Saint Francis (PA), and look to capitalize on their home court advantage against the Pioneers (3-13, 1-1) to earn their first conference win of the season in their first appearance in Smithfield since Sept. 15.

Senior captain and starting setter Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) hopes to keep her momentum going in front of the home crowd after posting a double-double in the Bulldogs' last match, a five-set loss on the road again the Red Flash. Lorenzo enters the game with 440 assists on the year and is second in the digs column with 135.

Freshman Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) recorded 16 kills last time out against Saint Francis (PA), bringing her season tally to a team-leading 169 kills. Junior Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) leads the team in offensive accuracy, posting a .270 hitting percentage to compliment 134 kills, good for second on the team. The third-year Bulldog also paces the team on the block (54), just one ahead of senior captain Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.), who needs just three more kills to eclipse the 100-kill threshold on the season.

Senior Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) enters the contest as the Bulldogs' primary libero option, leading the side in digs with 216 while also serving up 13 aces in her 60 sets played. That number is third on the squad, behind 15 from Lorenzo and an impressive 26 from Van Dyk.

Sacred Heart enters Smithfield off a 3-0 victory over St. Francis (NY) last weekend, marking the team's first win in the last seven matches. The Pioneers will be looking to sophomore outside hitter Alissa Young and her rookie counterpart Karly Shockey for their offensive power, as the pair leads the team with 171 and 134 kills, respectively. Young averages a stellar 3.23 kills per set on the 2012 campaign and is the side's second-most productive blockers with 12.

Johanna Ovsenek has 26 stuffs on the year with 117 kills, while junior Dianis Mercado leads the team with 11 aces and is Sacred Heart's top defender with 218 digs on the season.

As a team, Bryant has the edge over Sacred Heart when it comes to blocking, averaging almost an entire block more per set. However, the Pioneers go into the match with the defensive edge, averaging about two more digs per frame than their hosts.

Saturday's match kicks off a 1 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center. Can't make it to the game? Follow along on Live Stats or watch the broadcast FREE online.