Volleyball heads to Akron Invitational

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team hits the road for the first time this season, traveling to Akron, Ohio for the Akron Invitational this Friday and Saturday.

The Bulldogs (2-3) open tournament action against the host Zips (2-2) Friday at 12:30 p.m. and will take on Drake (3-1) at 5:30 p.m. The tournament continues on Saturday, when Bryant will appear in the first two matches of the day, taking on Austin Peay (1-4) at 10:00 a.m. and Binghamton (0-3) at 12:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs enter tournament action off a 3-0 win over intrastate rival Providence College Tuesday night after going 1-3 through the Bryant Hampton Inn-vitational opening weekend. Senior captain and starting outside hitter Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) leads the offense with 52 kills (3.06/set) and has a team-best four service aces while also ranking second on the team with 46 digs. Sophomore middle blocker Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) has the team's top hitting percentage at .337 and sits second with 40 kills, also contributing nine blocks and three aces while being named to the Hampton Inn-vitational all-tournament team.

Newcomers have already played a key role for the Black and Gold in the season's early goings, with reigning Molten/NEC Rookie of the Week Alexandra Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) ranking third on the side with 29 kills while leading the team on the block (21). Redshirt-freshman Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel) has amassed 141 assists (8.29/set) with 39 digs and nine blocks, while junior transfer and starting libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) paces the squad with 83 digs. Frosh defensive specialist Cassandra Sulmeisters (Centennial, Colo.) has added 32 digs while tying the team lead with four aces.

SCOUTING THE ZIPS
Akron enters its own tournament 2-2 on the year with wins over Chicago State and North Carolina A&T. The Zips feature a fairly balanced offense, with Amanda Bedell (28), Julia Smagacz (27), Anna Wenger (24) and Kelsey Wilson (23) all recording 20+ kills on the year. Callie Mack (41 digs) and Mary Delich (12 blocks) pace the team defensively, while Karley Kusan (60 assists) and Ashley Holder (47) have shared setting duties through the season's opening matches.

SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
After going 3-0 through the Omaha Classic, Drake dropped a three-set decision to North Dakota at home on Tuesday. Rookie Kyla Inderski leads the Bulldogs with 57 kills on the season (3.17/set) while Nicole Woods is close behind with 46. Drake also splits setting duties between Chandelle Davidson (96 assists) and Rebecca Brown (78), while defensive duties on the block are paced by Katie Dulek (16) and Capris Quaites (14). Michelle Thommi has posted a team-high 80 digs.

SCOUTING THE LADY GOVS
Austin Peay is paced by Jada Stotts's 55 kills, while Hillary Plybon and Liz Landon contribute 34 and 32, respectively. Stotts also paces the Lady Govs in digs (51) and aces (5), while Plybon has a team-best 10 blocks. Another squad with two able setters, Cami Fields leads the way with 93 assists while Aubrey Marsellis adds 77 in five matches.

SCOUTING THE BEARCATS
Binghamton had a tough outing at the Loyola Marymount Tournament to open 2014 action and will be looking for its first victory at the Akron Invitational. Allison Hovie was named an all-tournament team performer after averaging 2.44 kills per set and 2.11 digs per set through opening weekend play and leads the Bearcats with 22 kills. Amanda Dettman averages 6.62 assists per set for Binghamton with three aces, while Bianca Anderson's seven blocks represent a team best.