Bulldogs fall to CCSU, 3-1

BRYANT FALLS TO CENTRAL CONNECTICUT, 3-1, SATURDAY, LOOKS FOR WIN IN SUNDAY'S SEASON FINALE AT FDU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 31 assists and 15 digs while adding a team-high six blocks, but the Bryant University volleyball team couldn't get past Central Connecticut on the road Saturday afternoon in the first match of the team's final weekend of 2012 action.

Junior Kaitlyn Klein (Modesto, Calif.) posted 11 kills to lead the Bulldogs (11-21, 5-10 Northeast Conference) while rookie Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) fell just a single kill shy of her own double-double effort (9 kills, 12 digs). Sophomore Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) led the visitors with 16 digs.

Three Blue Devils (16-12, 11-4) finished with double-figure kills, led by a match-best 16 from Blaike King. Emily Cochran picked up a double-double with 14 kills and 10 digs, as Rachel Dunlap chipped in 10 kills and five blocks.

Makenna Lommori paced the contest with eight blocks and a match-high 43 assists, chipping in nine digs and four kills as well.  Allyson Porter posted an afternoon-high 21 digs, while Veronika Ban served up an impressive five aces.

Bryant came out with a 25-23 win in the opening set, but saw the host Blue Devils respond over the next three sets, 25-21, 25-17 and 26-24, to take the 3-1 victory. The teams ended the match nearly even in a number of statistical categories, with Central Connecticut taking a 49-45 edge in assists, a 65-64 margin in digs and a 14-13 advantage in team blocks.

The Bulldogs wrap up their 2012 season Sunday with a 3 p.m. matchup at Fairleigh Dickinson in Teaneck, N.J.