Bryant drops final non-conference bout, 3-1, to Dartmouth Wednesday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) paced the match with 13 kills but the Bryant University volleyball team could not wrap up 2016 non-league play with a win, falling to Dartmouth on the road, 3-1, Wednesday night.

Flynn posted one of three Bryant (13-13) double-doubles, joined by setters Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) and Vika Katzen (Kfar Saba, Israel). Sperry finished the night with 23 assists and 21 digs – both team highs – while Katzen added 20 helpers and 20 digs. The trio combined for all six of the Bulldogs' aces, including three from Flynn.

Junior Erica Vendituoli (Nashua, N.H.) tied Sperry with a team-high 21 digs, while sophomore Kristin Kingi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) chipped in 15 more. Flynn posted 11 to complete her double-double effort.

Junior Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) also helped lead the Bryant offense with seven kills, while three players – Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.), Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) and Grace Richmeyer (DeSoto, Mo.) – added six each. Lunsford led the team at the net with three blocks (1 solo).

Dartmouth (8-10) opened the match with a 25-17 victory before the Black and Gold knotted the contest at 1-1 with a 25-22 set-two win. But the Big Green picked up the next two frames, 25-21 and 25-19, for the 3-1 final margin.

Dartmouth featured 17 different players in the contest and was paced offensively by nine kills from Emily Astarita and Sara Lindquist. Molly Kornfeind and Kaira Lujan each added eight more, while Zoe Leonard picked up the only double-double for the Big Green with 24 assists and 12 digs.

Danielle Glinka posted a match-leading 24 digs, while Carly Tower (7 kills), Lujan and Lundquist dominated on the block with five, four and four, respectively. As a unit, Dartmouth outhit Bryant, .177 to .094, and outblocked the Black and Gold, 9-6.

The Bulldogs return to Northeast Conference action for the remainder of the season and will next host Saint Francis U. (Saturday, 5 p.m.) and Robert Morris (Sunday, 3 p.m.) at the Chace Athletic Center.