Bryant downs Binghamton to split final day of Hofstra Invitational

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Bryant University volleyball team split the final day of the Hofstra/Asics Invitational Saturday, as the Bulldogs had their five-match winning streak snapped by host Hofstra in the morning before closing the weekend with a four-set win over Binghamton.

Match Information
Hofstra 3, Bryant 0 (11-25, 16-25, 22-25)
Bryant 3, Binghamton 1 (25-18, 22-25, 25-18, 25-14)
Records: Bryant 8-7, Hofstra 8-5, Binghamton 3-10
Location: Mack Physical Education Center (Hempstead, N.Y.)

Coach Garlacy's Comments
"We didn't really start playing until the third set against Hofstra. They serve incredibly tough and our usually consistent serve receive was just not there this morning. Needless to say, we struggled to run our offense.

"In the finale, we served tough and blocked really well. Julia Flynn was dominating in the front and back row. Ally Lunsford was powerful in hitting and blocking. Our setters, Julia Malet and Kirstyn Sperry, ran a quick, smooth offense. The serve receive was back to our expected consistency.

How it Happened vs. Hofstra

• Set 1 – Bryant opened the match up 6-2 in the first set, but the Pride stormed ahead on a 20-2 run to take a 22-8 lead and win the set.
• Set 2 – The Bulldogs opened the set up 4-0, but an 11-1 Hofstra run gave the Pride the advantage in the set. Junior Grace Richmeyer (DeSoto, Mo.) recorded four kills in the set.
• Set 3 – Richmeyer, senior Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) and senior Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) each had three kills in the set and led 22-21 in the set following a Hofstra service error and attack error. The Pride responded with four straight points to close out the set and match.

How it Happened vs. Binghamton

• Set 1 – Junior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) and Richmeyer combined for eight kills in the set as Bryant led by as many as eight in the set.
• Set 2 – Binghamton jumped out to a 7-2 lead in the set and led throughout. Kills by Lunsford and Robbins brought it to within 18-17 before the Bearcats closed it out.
• Set 3 – Binghamton opened the set up 5-1, but a 6-1 Bulldogs run that included two kills each from Flynn and sophomore Brianna Bruny (Biscayne Park, Fla.) turned the tables. The Bulldogs closed the set on a 7-3 run to pull away and take a 2-1 lead into the fourth.
• Set 4 – Bryant trailed 6-3 to begin the set before a 12-1 run, capped off by a pair of aces from freshman Alisi Motu'apuaka (Fort Benning, Ga.), allowed the Bulldogs to coast to a double-digit margin in the fourth set and the victory.

 Stats/Notes  

• The Bulldogs are 6-1 since Sept. 8 and have an NEC-best eight wins this season.
• Lunsford and Richmeyer led the Bulldogs with seven kills each against Hofstra.
• Freshman Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) recorded 14 digs against Hofstra and 23 in the win over Binghamton. Ward is averaging 4.42 digs per set on the year.
• Flynn tallied 16 kills on a .419 hitting percentage and eight digs in the Binghamton match.
• Richmeyer had 10 kills and six blocks against Binghamton, while Bruny also had six blocks. Lunsford (5) and Sperry (4) also contributed to a total of 12 blocks in the win over the Bearcats.
• Robbins hit .357 with 12 kills against Binghamton.
• Bryant is 5-2 against the America East over the last two seasons.

Up Next
Bryant returns home to host Providence Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center.