Bulldogs drop pair at Akron Invitational Friday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) and sophomore Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) led the Bryant University volleyball team through the first day of competition at the Akron Invitational, but the Bulldogs came up empty against both the host Zips and Drake, 3-0.

The Bulldogs (2-5) struggled offensively in the opener, hitting just .088 and paced by seven kills from Lohr and six from redshirt-freshman setter Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba Israel). The pair each served up an ace in the outing, while Lohr added eight digs and two solo blocks. Nesterov dished out 14 assists and had a pair of block assists. Junior libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) picked up 11 digs. DePouw recorded a trio of stuffs for the Black and Gold.

Amanda Bedell paced the Zips (3-2) and the match with 11 kills while Ashley Holder recorded a double-double with 33 assists and 13 digs. Anna Wenger tied Holder with a match-best 13 digs while Mary Delich registered three blocks (1 solo).

Against Drake in the nightcap, both Lohr (12) and DePouw (10) recorded double-figure kills and Nesterov picked up her third double-double of the season, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Bulldogs (5-1) from Iowa, who won in straight sets, 26-24, 25-17, 25-19.

Nesterov posted a match-high 28 assists and added 10 digs while Magalhaes set the mark in digs with 18. Lohr served up a trio of aces to compliment her 12-kill, eight-dig effort while DePouw was credited with the team's only solo block of the night.

Kyle Inderskie tied Lohr with 12 kills for Drake, who also got seven kills apiece from Katie Dulek (3 aces), Makena Schoene (2 blocks) and Taylor Zant. Chandelle Davidson (20 assists) and Rebecca Brown (12) shared setting duties, while libero Michelle Thommi was just one off Magalhaes's pace (17 digs).

Drake outhit Bryant, .246 to .170 and got three extra aces with eight on the match.

The Black and Gold return to action to wrap up the Akron Invitational Saturday, taking on Austin Peay at 10:00 a.m. and Binghamton at 12:30 p.m.