Photo by DSPics.com
Photo by DSPics.com

Bulldogs outlasted by Rhode Island in weekend finale

KINGSTON, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team closed out its first trip to the Art Carmichael Invitational Saturday against Albany and Rhode Island, falling in three sets to the Great Danes and finishing on the short end of a five-set battle with the host Rams in a televised in-state clash.

Freshman Riley James (Pocasset, Mass.) was named to the Art Carmichael Invitational All-Tournament team for her efforts on the weekend, including a career-best performance in the Saturday night clash with Rhode Island.

Match Information
Albany 3, Bryant 0 (18-25, 19-25, 21-25)
Rhode Island 3, Bryant 2 (21-25, 33-31, 25-23, 21-25, 12-15)
Records: Bryant (5-10), Albany (3-9), Rhode Island (5-7)
Location: Keaney Gymnasium (Kingston, R.I.) 

Coach Garlacy's Comments
"I'm so proud of how hard our young team fought tonight. We played hard and fast and were so much fun to watch. This weekend's competition prepared us for the start of NEC play. Riley James had a breakout weekend and Abby Rae did a great job at libero." 

How it Happened vs. Albany

  • Set 1 – A kill from freshman Emma McGovern (Long Beach, N.Y.) cut the Albany lead to 18-15, but the Great Danes scored the next four to put the set out of reach in a 25-18 first.
  • Set 2 – The set was tied at six before Albany scored the next five and led the rest of the way in the second.
  • Set 3 – Bryant led 13-10, but Albany responded with eight straight points to take control of the set. Bryant would trim the deficit to three with the help of a kill and a block from freshman Alysa Wright (Wayne, Pa.), but the Great Danes were able to close out the win in three.

How it Happened vs. Rhode Island

  • Set 1 – A 7-0 Rhode Island run gave the Rams a 13-7 advantage. Bryant would respond with a 10-2 run to go ahead 17-15 and led 19-17 before URI scored six straight to lead the set the rest of the way.
  • Set 2 – Rhode Island led 8-5 before Bryant ran off six points in a row to go ahead 11-8. The teams would battle back and forth past 25, and after a service error tied the set at 31, McGovern recorded a kill and teamed up with freshman Maggie Ryan (Bethesda, Md.) on a block to even the match with a 33-31 second-set win.
  • Set 3 – Bryant led 16-10, but Rhode Island would eventually battle back and take the lead at 22-21. A Bulldog service error gave the Rams a 23-22 advantage, but Bryant would score the final three, taking a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-23 win.
  • Set 4 – Bryant scored five of seven points, buoyed by a pair of kills from James, to take a 21-20 lead in the set, but Rhode Island rattled off the final five points to force a fifth set.
  • Set 5 – The teams were neck-and-neck throughout the final set, but with the set tied at 12, Rhode Island was able to close out the match with the final three points.

Stats/Notes

  • James had 18 kills and 21 digs in the match against Rhode Island – both career-highs. The freshman was the first Bulldog to have 18 or more kills and digs in the same match since Julia Flynn in the 2017 NEC Semifinals.
  • James added team-highs with eight kills and 11 digs vs. Albany.
  • Sophomore Caroline Kennedy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) hit .323 with 14 kills against Rhode Island.
  • McGovern chipped in with seven kills and 15 digs against the Rams.
  • Sophomore Jenna Knight (Scottsdale, Ariz.) tallied nine kills and four blocks vs. Rhode Island.
  • Wright had six blocks against Rhode Island, including two solos, while Ryan was in on five.
  • Freshman Abby Rae (Walpole, Mass.) had her first-career double-digit dig total with 10 against Rhode Island.
  • Junior Alisi Motu'apuaka (Virginia Beach, Va.) recorded a career-high 25 assists against the Rams.
  • Bryant started five freshmen – Ryan, McGovern, Wright, James and Rae – against Rhode Island.

Up Next
Bryant returns home to face Hartford Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Chace Athletic Center. Tickets for Tuesday's match and all 2019 home contests are available HERE

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