Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Photo by DSPics.com
Photo by DSPics.com
Posted: Sep 21, 2017

Bryant opens NEC play at home against St. Francis Brooklyn and LIU Brooklyn

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team opens Northeast Conference play with a pair of matches at the Chace Athletic Center this weekend, as the Bulldogs host St. Francis Brooklyn Friday and LIU Brooklyn Saturday.

The Particulars
Opponents: St. Francis Brooklyn, LIU Brooklyn
Match Time: St. Francis Brooklyn (Friday, 6 p.m.); LIU Brooklyn (Saturday, 5 p.m.)
Live Stats: BryantBulldogs.com

Series History vs. St. Francis Brooklyn
The Bulldogs are 15-3 against the Terriers and have won six straight in the series. Bryant swept both meetings a year ago. Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) tallied 13 kills on a .346 hitting percentage in the win in Brooklyn.

Series History vs. LIU Brooklyn
The Bulldogs are 3-15 against LIU Brooklyn but have won the last two meetings in Smithfield. In last year's match at the Chace Athletic Center, Bryant hit .343 in a sweep of LIU Brooklyn. Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) posted 12 kills on a .529 hitting percentage in the Bulldogs' first-ever sweep of the Blackbirds.

Bulldog Notes and Notables

  • Bryant is 9-7 on the year and has won seven of its last eight after a sweep of Providence Tuesday at the Chace Athletic Center.
  • Senior Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) hit .550 with 11 kills in the sweep of the Friars.
  • The Bulldogs went 2-1 at the Hofstra/Asics Invitational last weekend, including a win over Syracuse - the second over a Power 5 opponent since joining Division I in 2008.
  • Lunsford and junior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) were named to the all-tournament team at Hofstra.
  • Flynn leads the Bulldogs with 3.11 kills per set this season, while Lunsford is hitting a team-best .343.
  • Freshman Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) has recorded a team-best 4.28 digs per set on the year and matched her career-high with 23 in last Saturday's over Binghamton.
  • The Bulldogs have won 12 straight home matches and are 30-3 at the Chace Athletic Center since the start of 2015.

A Bit About St. Francis Brooklyn
The Terriers are 6-9 in 2017 and enter NEC play with a 4-2 record in their last six matches. St. Francis Brooklyn is 2-1 against common opponents with wins over Holy Cross and Manhattan and a loss to Providence. Aleksandra Gligoric ranks second in the NEC with 3.84 kills per set, while Ally Speweik is fourth in the conference with a .319 hitting percentage.

A Bit About LIU Brooklyn
The Blackbirds are 7-6 going into Friday's NEC opener at Central Connecticut. LIU Brooklyn went 3-0 last weekend with wins over Marist, Fordham and Columbia. Viktoria Fink leads the Blackbirds with 2.86 kills per set, while Natalia Rivera ranks second in the NEC at 5.22 digs per set.

Dawg Pound Kickoff Event
Friday's match against St. Francis Brooklyn will be the 2017-18 kickoff event for the Dawg Pound. Bryant students in attendance can get their Dawg Pound t-shirts at the match against the Terriers.

One Ticket, Two Events
Saturday marks a full day of festivities as part of Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. The Bryant football team hosts Fordham at 1 p.m. at Beirne Stadium, which will be followed by the Bryant volleyball match vs. LIU Brooklyn at 5 p.m. Tickets for Saturday's football game will be good for admission to the volleyball match.

Get Rewarded for Being a Bulldog Fan
Fans, you can now get rewarded for attending Bryant Athletics events! Download the Bryant Bulldogs Rewards App on your mobile device, check in at home athletic events and become eligible for exclusive prizes! Just search "Bryant Bulldogs Rewards" in your favorite app store today, and start getting rewarded!