Bryant moves to 9-2 in NEC with St. Francis sweep

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team extended its winning streak to four matches with a Saturday sweep of St. Francis Brooklyn at the Chace Athletic Center.

Freshman Emma McGovern (Long Beach, N.Y.) recorded her second career double-double with team-highs of 10 kills and 14 digs. Junior Alisi Motu'apuaka (Virginia Beach, Va.) added a double-double of 20 assists and 10 digs. 

Match Information
Bryant 3, St. Francis Brooklyn 0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-13)
Records: Bryant (14-13, 9-2), St. Francis Brooklyn (10-15, 3-7)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.) 

Coach Garlacy's Comments
"Our right side of the court produced for us tonight. The attack was so efficient led by Jenna and Caroline and defensively our setters did a great job of digging at right back. It was a stellar night for Emma with a double-double. We did a great job serving tough and keeping St. Francis out of system."

How it Happened

• Set 1 – St. Francis would battle to tie the set at 16, 19 and 23 before a McGovern kill and Terrier attack error gave Bryant a 25-23 set win. Bryant had three aces in the set with two from freshman Riley James (Pocasset, Mass.).
• Set 2 – The Terriers led 2-1 before the Bulldogs surged forward with the next eight points, bolstered by four Terrier attack errors. St. Francis would battle throughout the set, cutting the deficit to three multiple times before a kill from sophomore Haley O'Brien (Milton, Mass.) was followed by a double from the Terrier setter to close out a 25-20 second set.
• Set 3 – Bryant led 14-10 before it rattled off seven straight points, helped by three blocks from the Bulldogs' sophomore class, to go up by double digits. Kills from Knight and James would seal the sweep at 25-13.

Stats/Notes

• Bryant's right side hitters – Kennedy and Knight – combined for 16 kills on a .417 hitting percentage.
• Motu'apuaka added three aces to her double-double.
• O'Brien was in on four blocks with two solo while Knight contributed to three.
• Junior Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) recorded 13 digs to improve to 1,324 for her career, 51 back of Kristin Kingi for Bryant's Division I program record.
• Bryant improves to 22-4 all-time against St. Francis Brooklyn.
• The Bulldogs are 9-2 through 11 NEC matches for the second consecutive season. 

Up Next
Bryant travels to Pennsylvania for two matches next weekend, beginning with a Friday night contest at first-place Robert Morris. The Bulldogs and Colonials will square off at 7 p.m. at the new UPMC Events Center.

Tickets for the Nov. 8 Senior Night match vs. Long Island are available HERE.

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