Posted: Sep 27, 2009

BULLDOGS ROLL TO 3-0 WIN OVER COPPIN STATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON, GEONNOTTI NAMED BRYANT INVITATIONAL MVP

September 27, 2009

BULLDOGS ROLL TO 3-0 WIN OVER COPPIN STATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON, FINISH BRYANT INVITATIONAL WITH 2-1 RECORD

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Sophomore Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) recorded a match-high 13 kills to lead the Bryant University volleyball team, as the Bulldogs rolled to a 3-0 win over Coppin State to close out the Bryant Invitational Sunday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center.

With the win, Bryant (5-11) finished the weekend tournament with a 2-1 record and recorded its second home victory of the season. The Bulldogs never trailed at any point in the shutout victory, allowing the Eagles (0-17) to tie the score just three times all day.

Stoner was stellar on the match, hitting at a .462 clip with just a single attack error in 26 attempts, picking up a pair of aces, a block and nine digs as well. Junior libero Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.) also put forth a strong showing on defense for the Bulldogs, collecting a career-high 33 digs in just three sets.

After winning the first set, 25-14 - led by a pair of solo blocks from sophomore Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) and four kills apiece from Stoner and junior captain Adrienne Boss (Dracut, Mass.) - the Bulldogs started out the second frame with a 9-4 lead. The advantage dwindled to 10-8 mid-set, as two kills each from Christina Epps and Ashley Saunders found Bryant floor.

Coppin State cut the lead to just one, 11-10, with a Mercedes Maynard-Randall ace before senior setter Adriana Fuertes (Miramar, Puerto Rico) led the Bulldogs back to a 16-10 lead with a series of strong serves.

From there, Bryant would cruise, capitalizing on seven Eagle attack errors while committing just one en route to a 25-16 win and 2-0 match advantage.

In the final set, Gardner and the Bulldogs would shut CSU down early with no chance to recover, as the junior libero served the home side to a 9-0 lead to open the frame. Eight of the nine points were scored off Bulldog kills, with just one coming from an Eagle error. Gardner would record 14 digs in the set as Bryant took a 25-15 win and 3-0 victory in the match.

On the afternoon, the Bulldogs served up six aces, led by two from Stoner and Fuertes, and hit at a .290 mark as a team. Bryant outblocked the Eagles, 13-12, with Scocca's five (2 solo, 3 assists) leading the way. Salena Weekly paced CSU with four (1 solo, 3 assists). Fuertes collected 28 assists, while rookie Samantha Whitham (South Weymouth, Mass.) also saw quality time on the court, earning six helpers.

Scocca registered nine kills to compliment her five stuffs, also grabbing an ace and four digs. Boss hit at a .438 clip on the match with seven kills while senior captain Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie, Minn.) gathered eight kills, nine digs and a block in Bryant's final match to earn the Bryant Invitational MVP award, as well as an all-tournament team nod. Scocca was also named to the all-tournament team for her weekend performance, collecting 42 kills and 22 total blocks in three matches.

Saunders's nine kills and 17 digs led the Eagles, who would get 12 assists from Maynard-Randall.

The Bulldogs remain at home and return to action Friday, Oct. 2 as they welcome Central Connecticut to the Chace Athletic Center to open Northeast Conference play. Game time is 7 p.m.

Howard vs. Coppin State

Behind 15 kills and a .519 attack percentage from Gazelle D'Artois, the Howard University volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 win over Coppin State University in Sunday's opening matchup at the Bryant Invitational, hosted by Bryant University.

With the win, the Bison (3-17) finish the weekend tournament, 2-1.

Howard's Taylor Montgomery collected a match-high seven blocks (2 solo, 5 assists) and chipped in eight kills on the day, while Nicole Brown (22 digs) and D'Artrois each added a trio of aces to lead the Bison to the win.

Howard took the first set, 25-15, paced by five kills and three blocks from Montgomery. Coppin State's Jade Dudley collected two blocks in the loss. Set two was no closer, as the Bison held a 16-4 lead before allowing the Eagles to start mounting a slight comeback. But it would be too little too late as Howard closed out the set, 25-11, for a 2-0 match lead.

CSU (0-16) took early 4-3 and 7-6 leads in the final set, but the Bison wouldn't stay behind for long. Mounting a five-point lead mid-set, 12-7, Howard stood behind six kills from D'Artois and three from Keri Partridge to take a 25-13 victory to earn a 3-0 win over the Eagles.

Ashley Saunders paced CSU with eight kills on the day. Howard's Jasmine King collected a match-best 26 assists.

2009 BRYANT INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Ashley Saunders - Coppin State
Gazelle D'Artois and Keri Partridge - Howard
Brianna Williamson and Carly Cotton - Brown
Maria Scocca and Julie Geonnotti - Bryant
Tournament MVP - Julie Geonnotti, Bryant