Posted: Nov 14, 2008

BRYANT FALLS TWICE IN FIRST DAY OF 2008 NATIONAL TRANSITION CHALLENGE, BULLDOGS WILL FACE NORTH DAKOTA SATURDAY AT 2 P.M.

November 14, 2008

BRYANT FALLS TWICE IN FIRST DAY OF 2008 NATIONAL TRANSITION CHALLENGE, BULLDOGS WILL FACE NORTH DAKOTA SATURDAY AT 2 P.M.

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite 20 total kills from freshman Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.), the Bryant University volleyball team couldn’t pull out a win in its two-match opening day of the 2008 National Transitions Challenge hosted by the Bulldogs, as Bryant fell to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, 3-1, before losing to the University of South Dakota, 3-0, at the Chace Athletic Center Friday.

The Bulldogs (16-18) got a double-double from frosh Hilary Andrews (Tipp City, Ohio) in a 3-1 loss to Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (12-14) in the evening’s first matchup. Andrews notched 10 kills and 13 digs.

But it would be Scocca who led the Bulldogs with 13 kills, recording four digs and four blocks of her own, while senior co-captain Delia Glover (Marston Mills, Mass.) paced Bryant with 20 digs in Game One.

The first matchup got started with a 25-17 loss in set one, despite tough work from the home side. But it was the second set that proved the Bulldogs’ true courage on the court.

The home team got off to a difficult start, falling behind, 14-6, to start the set. A series of Glover serves led Bryant back to a 15-11 disadvantage before the Bulldogs got the ball for rookie Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.). Stoner took a 20-16 deficit and turned it into a 23-20 lead, putting Bryant on top for the first time in the set.

And while SUIE would manage to tie the score at 23-23 and then match points with the Bulldogs until 26-26, a big kill from Scocca put the Bulldogs up, 27-26, before an attack error on the part of the Cougars gave Bryant a 28-26 win and a 1-1 match score.

But in set three, six-straight points off Sydney Winslow serves gave the Cougars a lead Bryant couldn’t overtake, falling, 25-13.

And while the Bulldogs were able to climb back into the fourth set – they tied the game at 22-22 despite being down early – Bryant couldn’t pull off the win, falling 25-23 for a tough 3-1 match loss.

In the second contest of the night, the Bulldogs found themselves overmatched by a talented University of South Dakota side. Bryant started off the first set up, 4-0, but it was a lead that wouldn’t last long. Serves from Kathleen Hruska gave the Coyotes (23-3) the lead, 5-4, and before long South Dakota would find itself up, 14-8.

A block from Stoner and junior Morgan Wood (Cedar Park, Texas) would get the Bulldogs a point back, but the Coyotes would soon take an even bigger lead, 18-10.

An Andrews’ ace cut South Dakota’s edge to 20-14, but there wouldn’t be enough time for a comeback as the Bulldogs fell, 25-19.

Set two was much of the same, with the home team falling to a 10-point, late-set rally from the South Dakota offense, dropping the game, 25-11.

The third set had the same fate in store for the Bulldogs, who eventually fell to the Coyotes, 3-0.

Bryant was led on the day by 20 kills from Scocca and 15 from Andrews. Geonnotti’s 29 assists were a team high on the evening, while Scocca recorded six total blocks and Glover ended the day with 34 digs.

The Bulldogs return to the court Saturday afternoon to take on Pool B’s University of North Dakota at 2 p.m. in the Chace Athletic Center. The contest, Bryant’s last of the 2008, will serve as Senior Day.

Friday, Nov. 14 Scores:
USD 3, SUIE 1
Seattle 3, UND 2
SUIE 3, Bryant 1
HBU 3, UND 1
USD 3, Bryant 0
HBU 3, Seattle 2

Saturday, Nov. 15 Matchups:
10 a.m.: SUIE vs. Seattle
12 p.m. USD vs. HBU (Championship Game)
2 p.m. Bryant vs. UND (2008 Senior Day)