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Photo by DSPics.com
Photo by DSPics.com
Posted: Nov 01, 2018

Bryant travels to Sacred Heart, Fairleigh Dickinson

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – The Bryant University volleyball team plays its final road weekend of the NEC regular season with trips to Sacred Heart and Fairleigh Dickinson Friday and Saturday.

The Particulars
Opponents: Sacred Heart (Friday); Fairleigh Dickinson (Saturday)
Match Times: Friday – 6 p.m.; Saturday – 5 p.m.
Links (Friday): NEC Front Row | Live Stats
Links (Saturday): NEC Front Row | Live Stats 

Series History vs. Sacred Heart
Bryant is 24-17 all-time against Sacred Heart and 6-15 since the move to Division I. The Pioneers took the first meeting of 2018 in three sets in Smithfield Oct. 5. Senior Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) collected five blocks in the match, while senior Grace Richmeyer (DeSoto, Mo.) and freshman Haley O'Brien (Milton, Mass.) each added four. 

Bulldog Notes and Notables

  • Bryant is 18-10 overall and 8-2 in the NEC, having won its last five NEC matches. The Bulldogs fell in three sets to Dartmouth in a non-conference match Tuesday at the Chace Athletic Center.
  • The Bulldogs' five-match NEC winning streak has included two victories over third-place Central Connecticut, five-set road wins at Saint Francis U and Robert Morris, and a sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson.
  • The Black and Gold are 4-1 on the road in NEC play this year.
  • Bryant enters the weekend within one match of first-place LIU Brooklyn in the loss column with two NEC weekends remaining. The Bulldogs have four matches remaining while the Blackbirds have three.
  • The Bulldogs clinch an NEC tournament berth this weekend with one win or St. Francis Brooklyn loss.
  • Senior Kristin Kingi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) posted her fourth consecutive double-double in last Saturday's win over Central Connecticut with 16 kills and 19 digs.
  • The Bryant freshman class has combined for 28 performances of 10 or more kills this season, including 20 from Caroline Kennedy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.).
  • Head coach Theresa Garlacy won her 500th career match in the Sept. 8 sweep of Coppin State. Garlacy is now at 512 career wins entering the weekend.

A Bit About Sacred Heart
The Pioneers are 13-8 and 6-4 in the NEC after last Friday's sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson. Sacred Heart has four matches remaining and is looking to hold off St. Francis Brooklyn (5-6) over the final two weekends. 

Liisel Nelis leads the NEC with 3.65 kills per set, while Sarah Ciszek is first in the conference in hitting percentage (.334) and assists per set (9.17). Kiley Ridgway's 1.07 blocks per set rank second in the NEC.

A Bit About Fairleigh Dickinson
The Knights are 2-24 on the year and 0-10 in conference play. FDU was last in action Wednesday, falling at home in three sets to Coppin State. 

Erika Sullivan leads FDU with 2.46 kills per set. Jaelyn Young has recorded a team-high 3.22 digs per set, while Brooke Stevens ranks fifth in the NEC with 0.91 blocks per set.

Up Next: LIU Brooklyn, St. Francis Brooklyn
Bryant closes out the regular season at home next weekend with matches against LIU Brooklyn and St. Francis Brooklyn. Both matches begin at 6 p.m. 

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