Van Dyk gets double-double despite 3-1 loss

VAN DYK'S DOUBLE-DOUBLE PACES BRYANT, BULLDOGS FALL TO SACRED HEART, 3-1

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Freshman outside hitter Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) posted her first career double-double with a team-best 15 kills and 12 digs, but the Bryant University volleyball team couldn't hold on to the early lead in a 3-1 loss to Sacred Heart at the Chace Athletic Center Saturday afternoon.

Van Dyk hit at a side-high .433 clip on the contest while junior Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) also posted double-figure kills with 14 and led the match with four blocks for the Bulldogs (5-13, 0-3 Northeast Conference). Five Pioneers (4-13, 2-1) finished the day with 11 or more kills, including a match-best 17 from Alissa Young. Johanna Ovsenek posted the top hitting percentage on the day at .536, coming off 15 kills and without an error.

The Bulldogs hit an impressive .452 as a team with just a single attack error in the first set, leading by as many as 10 points, 16-6, to take a 1-0 lead in the match with a 25-19 win in the opening frame. But in the second, Sacred Heart jumped out to an early edge, leading 11-6 and 15-8, and would hold on to that lead despite Bryant's best efforts to close the gap. The hosts would pull no closer than four in the set, as the frame ended in a 25-16 Pioneer victory and a 1-1 match tie.

The third set saw Sacred Heart capitalize on five aces – including back-to-back perfect serves from senior Megan Pulone – and four Bulldog attacking miscues to surge ahead on the match, 2-1, with a 25-18 frame-three victory. The Pioneers posted their best attacking effort of the day, hitting at a .483 clip to the Bulldogs' .348 effort. A battle throughout the fourth set would end in the favor of the visitors, 25-20, as Sacred Heart took home the 3-1 victory.

On the day, both teams hit well, with the Pioneers edging out the Bulldogs, .353 to .289. Bryant took the advantage in the blocking category, 11-4, with senior Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) tying Clyburn with a match-best four stuffs.

Senior setter Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) dished out 45 assists in the contest, while Sacred Heart setter Alisa Mesa put up 59 assists for the Pioneers. Visiting libero Dianis Mercado had the top defensive number with 14 digs, but was one of four Pioneers with double-digit digs. Three Bulldogs, led by 13 from senior Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii), posted double-figure dig efforts, as well.

The Bulldogs now remain at home for the second contest of a four-match home stand – their longest of the year – next hosting intrastate rival Providence College on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7:00 p.m.