Bulldogs drop pair at Iona Tournament

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite two solid showings at the Iona Tournament Saturday afternoon, the Bryant University volleyball team dropped a pair to La Salle and Hartford, 3-2, and 3-1, respectively.

In the opener against the Explorers (4-8), senior captain Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) paced the match with a season-high 22 kills on 57 swings as the outside hitter completed her second-straight double-double by adding 14 digs. Redshirt-freshman setter Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel) dished out a career-high 53 assists in the match with 12 digs, also contributing five blocks – second only to six from sophomore Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) – with one ace. DePouw added 13 kills to a .300 hitting effort as the teams battled in the tightest match of the season.

La Salle needed extra points to take the first set, 27-25, and won the second by two, 25-23, for a 2-0 match lead. But the Bulldogs (3-10) came roaring back in the third for the largest margin of victory in the contest, 25-21, before tying the match at 2-2 with a 25-23 win in the fourth. But in the deciding set, the Explorers would best the Black and Gold, 15-13, to come away with the match victory, 3-2.

Junior libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) paced the game defensively with a career-high 32 digs, adding six assists. Rookie Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) added 11 kills, and Natascha Scarff (Geneva, Switzerland) picked up 17 digs and three kills in her Bulldog debut. La Salle was led by 16 kills from Kelly Perillo, 47 assists from Michelle Healy and 23 digs from Bryanna Davis.

In the tournament finale, Lohr and DePouw once again led the Black and Gold with 16 and 14 kills, respectively, while Lohr and Nesterov again put up double-doubles despite the four-set loss.

The Hawks (6-5) won the opening two sets, 25-19 and 25-16, before the Bulldogs came back in the third to half their deficit in extra points, 26-24. But despite a tightly contested fourth that featured 12 ties and seven lead changes, Hartford would take the set with a 25-23 win.

Magalhaes matched her morning performance with a contest-best 32 digs, while Lohr's 12 and Nesterov's 13 (41 assists) completed their respective double-double efforts. Robbins finished with double-figure kills as well, adding 10 with a pair of blocks. DePouw and junior Taylor Onoyan (Crystal Lake, Ill.) led the tilt with four blocks apiece.

Sareeta Nethersole paced the contest with 18 kills and 25 digs for the Hawks, who also got 12 kills from Corinne Horanzy. Jackie Tamburri finished with 40 assists and 20 digs, while she and Nethersole each served up a trio of aces.

For their efforts, Magalhaes and Lohr were both named to the Iona Tournament All-Tournament Team. Lohr finished the weekend with 49 kills (.155) and 38 digs with double-doubles in all three weekend matches, while Magalhaes paced the Bulldogs defensively with 85 digs (6.54/set).

The Bulldogs leave tournament play but will face off against a familiar opponent in their next contest, once again taking on Hartford on the road in Connecticut Tuesday night (7 p.m.).