Sacred Heart sweeps Bulldogs

FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Sacred Heart swept the Bryant University volleyball team in straight sets on Monday night in Fairfield. 

Emma McGovern led the Bulldogs in both matches with a combined 22 kills across both matches but it was Mia Cergol who posted a double-double of 11 digs and 27 assists. 

Match Information
Match 1: Sacred Heart 3, Bryant 0 (25-14, 25-17, 25-19) 
Match 2: Sacred Heart 3, Bryant 0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-21)
Records: Bryant (2-3, 2-2) | Sacred Heart (5-3, 4-0)
Location: William H. Pitt Center (Fairfield, Conn.)

Coach Garlacy's Comments

"Tonight's match was a defensive battle with blocking and floor defense coming to challenge one of the toughest offensive teams in the league. Out receivers, Abby Rae, Erika Ward, and Fabiana Castro were very consistent allowing Mia Cergol to distribute the offense evenly. Haley O'Brien and Jenna Knight had great intensity on offense."

How it happened – Match 1

• Set 1 – Sacred Heart started to separate itself from the Bulldogs when a kill by Jasmine Rogers sparked an 11-1 run to grow to an eight-point lead, 19-11. The Pioneers held Bryant to just seven kills in the first set.  
• Set 2 – Bryant was held to a .027 hitting percentage as the Pioneers erupted for 15 kills and a hitting percentage of .361.
• Set 3 – The Bulldogs erased a 10-point deficit when a Sacred Heart attack error started a 7-0 Bryant run. The Bulldogs pulled within four, 23-19, but the Pioneers held on took two-straight points to close out the match.  

Stats/Game Notes – Match 1

• McGovern led with 10 kills and a hitting percentage of .226 (10-3-31).
• Haley O'Brien posted four blocks and three kills.
• Fabiana Castro hit .105 off four kills. She finished the first match with six digs, a pair of blocks, and Bryant's lone ace of the match.
• Sophomore Mia Cergol tallied 19 assists, nine digs, and two blocks.
• Senior Erika Ward collected 16 digs.
• The team hit .083 (27-8-109).

How it Happened – Match 2

• Set 1 – The Bulldogs were trailing, 21-17, before embarking on a 6-1 run to take the lead, 23-22, thanks to three-straight kills from McGovern. The run forced Sacred Heart to break for a timeout, and the Pioneers went on to score the next three points after the break to take the first set.
• Set 2 – Sacred Heart was at set point when Bryant started to crawl back. Wright and McGovern each buried the ball during back-to-back points, followed by a Sacred Heart attack error, to put the Black and Gold within one. But a service error from Cergol ended the Bryant run and gave the Pioneers the set, 25-23.
• Set 3 – Bryant came out strong to start the third set and held an early 5-1 advantage. The lead didn't last long as Sacred Heart responded with a 7-0 run to take the lead. The Pioneers maintained their lead for the remainder of the set, 25-21.

Stats/Game Notes – Match 2

• McGovern hit .171 off 12 kills.
• Wright led with seven blocks and also tallied four kills.
• Castro had an all-around effort with seven kills, nine digs, and five blocks.
• O'Brien posted a hitting percentage of .385 (7-2-13).
• Ward accounted for 19 of Bryant's 54 digs.
• Cergol posted a double-double of 11 digs and 27 assists.
• Bryant posted 11 service errors in the second match.
• As a team, the Bulldogs posted a season-best 54 digs and 22 block assists.

Up Next
The Bulldogs remain on the road when they travel to Fairleigh Dickinson on March 17. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m.