Bulldogs host UNH in only September home match Tuesday at 7 p.m.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team returns to the Chace Athletic Center for its only September home match Tuesday night, taking on the University of New Hampshire at 7:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs (2-6) will work to snap a five-match losing streak when they take on the Wildcats (3-3), who own a 6-2 lead in an all-time series. The squads have faced off in every season at the Division I level, dating back to the 2008 campaign, as the Black and Gold will be looking for their first win over UNH at home and first victory in the series since 2011.

Leading them on the floor will be senior captains Vika Katzen (Kfar Saba, Israel) and Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.). With 200 assists on the year, Katzen drives a Bryant offense that has relied heavily on its upperclassmen. Juniors Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) and Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) in combination with DePouw are responsible for 137 of the team's 334 kills, but it is sophomore Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) who leads the way with 60 kills in just 18 sets, averaging 3.33 kills per stanza.

Defensive duties have fallen on the shoulders of a number of Bulldogs, most recently rookie Nikki Kim (River Edge, N.J.), who posted a 21-dig outing against Brown despite a 3-1 loss. Sophomore Kristin Kingi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and junior Erica Vendituoli (Nashua, N.H.) have also taken turns anchoring the defense and total 76 and 39 digs, respectively, while Flynn (40), Katzen (60) and sophomore Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) (42) have also been strong from the back row.

Fresh off 3-2 wins over Boston College and Siena, the Wildcats enter Smithfield looking for their first winning streak of the season. Emily Tanski and Courtney Bowman pace the UNH attack with 62 and 52 kills, respectively, while Keelin Severtson averages 10 assists per set with 230 helpers and 11 service aces on the season so far. Gabri Olhava paces the side on the block with 15, including three solo stuffs.

Tuesday night's contest can be seen live on NECFrontRow.com, and fans can also follow the action on Twitter @BryantGameday.