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Photos by DSPics.com
Photos by DSPics.com
Posted: Nov 09, 2017

Bryant treks to Pennsylvania for final two regular-season matches

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Bryant University volleyball team closes out the regular season Friday and Saturday with two pivotal Northeast Conference matches in the Keystone State, as the Bulldogs face Robert Morris and Saint Francis U.

Bryant enters the final weekend in a three-way tie for first in the NEC with Central Connecticut and LIU Brooklyn at 9-3, as Robert Morris is one match behind at 8-4. All four teams are in contention to host next weekend's Northeast Conference Championship. 

The Particulars
Opponents: Robert Morris, Saint Francis U
Match Time: Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m.
Friday Links: Live Stats | NEC Front Row
Saturday Links: Live Stats | NEC Front Row 

Series History vs. Robert Morris
The Bulldogs are 7-11 all-time against the Colonials but have won three straight in the series. Bryant swept Robert Morris in an Oct. 13 meeting in Smithfield, as junior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) led the way with 16 kills. 

Series History vs. Saint Francis U
The Bulldogs are 7-11 in their history with the Red Flash and looking to avenge their lone home loss of the season. Saint Francis U picked off Bryant Oct. 14 in Smithfield and ended Bryant's 16-match home winning streak. Junior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) tallied 19 kills and 13 digs in the defeat. 

Bulldog Notes and Notables

  • Bryant is 19-11 on the year and 17-5 since Sept. 8. The Bulldogs enter the weekend in a three-way tie with Central Connecticut and LIU Brooklyn at 9-3 in the NEC.
  • The Bulldogs went 2-0 last weekend with a sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson and five-set win over Sacred Heart.
  • Senior Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) hit .415 last week and tallied nine blocks in the comeback win over the Pioneers.
  • Junior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) is averaging 3.57 kills per set in NEC play and leads the team with 3.27 kills per set on the season. Lunsford has posted a team-best .281 hitting percentage.
  • Freshman Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) has recorded a team-best 3.81 digs per set on the year, while junior Grace Richmeyer (DeSoto, Mo.) has tallied 0.99 blocks per set overall and 1.22 per set in NEC play.
  • One victory this weekend would give Bryant its first 20-win season of the Division I era. Bryant matched its Division I program mark of 19 wins, originally set in 2015 and again in 2016, with Saturday's win over Sacred Heart.
  • Bryant is 36-4 at home since the start of 2015.

A Bit About Robert Morris
The Colonials are 14-14 and 8-4 in the NEC, one match behind the three-way tie for first with two matches remaining. Robert Morris clinched a spot in the NEC tournament Saturday with Sacred Heart's loss to Bryant. Emma Granger ranks second in the NEC with a .356 hitting percentage and has recorded 3.00 kills per set on the year. 

A Bit About Saint Francis U
The Red Flash enters Friday's match against Central Connecticut at 12-13 and 6-6 in the NEC. Kelsey Roush is second in the NEC with 3.82 kills per set, while Jenna Veres has recorded a conference-leading 5.78 digs per set.