Pair of NEC matches at the Chace await Bryant this weekend
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team looks to continue an unblemished start to its Northeast Conference schedule when the Bulldogs host Robert Morris and Saint Francis U this weekend at the Chace Athletic Center.
Bryant is 3-0 in the NEC and one of three undefeated teams in the conference standings, joining Long Island (2-0) and Robert Morris (1-0).
The Particulars
Opponent: Robert Morris
Match Time: Friday – 6 p.m.
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Tickets: Friday
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Presto Sports
All-Time Series: Robert Morris leads, 12-10
Opponent: Saint Francis U
Match Time: Saturday – 5 p.m.
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Tickets: Saturday
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Presto Sports
All-Time Series: Saint Francis U leads, 11-10
LAST TIME OUT: BRYANT 3, MERRIMACK 0
The Bulldogs improved to 3-0 in conference play with a Tuesday sweep at Merrimack. Freshman Riley James (Pocasset, Mass.) tallied 10 kills and sophomore Haley O'Brien (Milton, Mass.) added nine in their first collegiate matches in their home state.
ABOUT THE COLONIALS
Robert Morris is 11-3 on the year and 1-0 in the NEC after a sweep of Merrimack last Friday. The Colonials opened the season 10-0.
Emma Granger leads the Colonials with 2.94 kills per set on a .361 hitting percentage and has added 0.58 aces and 1.50 blocks per set. Maria Alfano and Alyssa Hudak have chipped in with 2.72 kills per set each.
ABOUT THE RED FLASH
Saint Francis U is 1-12 entering the weekend, having picked up its first victory of 2019 Saturday with a four-set win over Merrimack.
Madi Tyus leads the Red Flash with 3.66 kills per set on a .218 hitting percentage and team-high 2.71 digs per set. Kimmy Sweeney's 7.18 assists per set lead the team.
HITTING A HIGH NOTE
Bryant's .372 hitting percentage in Tuesday's win at Merrimack was its best since a .405 mark in a win over Hampton Sept. 17, 2016.
RILEY'S RECORD DAY
James hit .468 with 24 kills in last Saturday's win over St. Francis Brooklyn, giving the freshman from Massachusetts the Bryant Division I record for kills by a freshman in a single match.
WARD-WINNING PERFORMANCE
Junior Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) added 14 digs Tuesday to rise to 1,218 for her collegiate career. The junior from Michigan passed Kirstyn Sperry Tuesday for third in Bryant's Division I era in career digs and enters the weekend 157 back of Kristin Kingi's program record.
20=10+10
James has recorded five double-doubles in her freshman season after the 24-kill, 12-dig performance Saturday. The freshman has added double-doubles against Providence, Kent State, Brown and Rhode Island this season.
SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS
Junior Alisi Motu'apuaka (Virginia Beach, Va.) notched a career-best 38 assists in Saturday's win over St. Francis Brooklyn. Motu'apuaka was named to the all-tournament team in two of Bryant's four non-conference weekend invitationals.
UNDERCLASSMEN LEADING THE ATTACK
Bryant has seen 90.4% of its kills come from its sophomores and freshmen in 2019. The Bryant sophomores, led by Kennedy (2.38 per set) have contributed 46.8%, while the freshmen, with James pacing the group (2.66 per set) have collected 43.6%.
CROSS-SOUND SUCCESS
Bryant's freshman duo from Long Island has made an immediate impact, as Emma McGovern (Long Beach, N.Y.) ranks third on the Bulldogs in kills and digs per set, while Mia Cergol (East Northport, N.Y.) has been responsible for 36.7% of Bryant's assists on the year.
McGovern was named Molten/NEC Rookie of the Week for her efforts in each of the first two weeks of 2019, becoming the third Bulldog in the last three seasons to earn a conference rookie of the week honor (Caroline Kennedy, Erika Ward.)
UP NEXT: MERRIMACK, SACRED HEART
Bryant plays the second of back-to-back home weekends when the Bulldogs face Merrimack and Sacred Heart October 11-12 at the Chace Athletic Center. Tickets for all five matches during the upcoming homestand are available by clicking HERE.
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