Flynn, Sperry post double-doubles, Bulldogs drop 3-1 decision to SIUE at Columbia Classic

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) posted a match-leading 16 kills while classmate Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) registered her second-straight double-double, but the Bryant University volleyball couldn't hold onto an early 1-0 lead in a 3-1 defeat to SIU Edwardsville Friday at the Columbia Classic.

Flynn posted six kills and served up a pair of aces in a back-and-forth opening set that saw nine ties and four lead changes. The Bulldogs (3-7) opened up an 11-6 advantage and remained out in front until the Cougars (4-3) forced a 21-21 draw after an 8-3 run. A Taylor Joens kill gave SIUE its first lead of the frame and the sides would trade off from there, with neither team taking more than a one-point lead.

The Cougars were the first to get to 25, but junior Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) knotted the score with one of her eight kills on the night. The margin would return to even at 26-26 and 27-27, but an Ashley Witt service error and Ava Patterson (Danville, Calif.) kill gave the Black and Gold the 29-27 victory and a 1-0 match edge.

The advantage was short lived, though, as SUIE hit an impressive .457 as a team in the second to take a 25-15 win and tie the match at one set apiece. The third opened with a battle for the lead, and the teams would see seven ties in the first 22 points after a Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) kill knotted the stanza at 11-11. But the Cougars would pull away from there, capitalizing on 12 Bulldog miscues for the 25-17 win.

In the fourth, Emily Harrison and Witt would each post five kills for SIUE – the former would go errorless for a .833 attack percentage – to lead the Cougars to the match victory with a 25-18 win and 3-1 final score.

Patterson and Robbins would each finish the affair with six kills, while senior setter Vika Katzen (Kfar Saba, Israel) tied the match high with 28 assists (7 kills, 8 digs). Sperry dished out 18 dimes with 15 digs, while junior libero Erica Vendituoli (Nashua, N.H.) picked up a contest-high 21 digs. Flynn added 10 digs to her own night for her first double-double of the season.

Joens (16), Harrison (15) and Witt (14) all finished with double-figure kills, with Harrison tacking on six blocks (1 solo). Mallory Mangun matched Katzen's total and posted her own double-double with 28 assists and 14 digs, while Samantha Knight echoed the performance with 23 helpers and 11 digs. Katie Shashack picked up 20 digs. SIUE outblocked the Bulldogs, 12-2, and outhit its opponent, .319 to .149.

The Bulldogs will look for a pair of wins Saturday, taking on host Columbia at 1 p.m. before wrapping up tournament action against Manhattan at 5 p.m.