BULLDOGS CLINCH FIRST WIN OF SEASON, 3-2, AGAINST PROVIDENCE, FALL TO BUCKNELL, 3-1, IN MARIST TOURNAMENT SATURDAY

Saturday, September 05, 2009

BULLDOGS CLINCH FIRST WIN OF SEASON, 3-2, AGAINST PROVIDENCE, FALL TO BUCKNELL, 3-1, IN MARIST TOURNAMENT SATURDAY

Boxscore vs. Providence / Boxscore vs. Bucknell

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - The Bryant University volleyball team earned its first victory of the season Saturday morning against Providence College, 3-2, before falling to Bucknell University, 3-1, in the afternoon game at the Marist "Volley in the Valley" Tournament.

The 3-2 win over the Friars (2-3) came in the opening game of the two-day weekend tournament. The Bulldogs (1-4) were led by a breakout day from sophomore middle hitter Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.), who recorded 29 kills in the match. Scocca would pace the Bulldog offense on the day, totaling 40 kills across the pair of matches. Scocca would also lead Bryant in blocks, registering 10 in total, six in the outing against PC.

Classmate Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) also recorded double-digit wins in both contests, collecting 12 against the Friars before getting 10 against Bucknell in the afternoon game.

Junior libero Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.) collected 18 digs in both matches to lead the Bulldogs defensively, while seniors Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Adriana Fuertes (Miramar, Puerto Rico) continued to split the setting duties. Geonnotti would finish the day with 48 assists while Fuertes would collect 49.

In the first match of the weekend, the Bulldogs went down, 1-0, in the first set, 25-23, before winning the next two, 25-22 and 25-18. Providence would return the favor, taking the fourth set, 25-20, but it was only a matter of time until the Bulldogs clinched the win in the fifth, 15-8.

The Friars were led by 10 kills from Lauren Fletcher and 29 assists from Carly Morrison.

But Bryant struggled in the second match against Patriot League opponent Bucknell, as the Bison (3-2) used double-digit kill days from Kaitlin Segal (13) and Heidi Kamp (14) to take the 3-1 victory.

The teams traded sets to open the contest - Bucknell took set one, 25-22, before Bryant took the second set, 25-17 - but the Bulldogs would fall far short in the third, losing, 25-12. And as hard as the Bulldogs fought to get back in it in the fourth set, they would eventually fall, 25-22.

The Bulldogs have one more chance at leaving Poughkeepsie, N.Y. with a winning weekend record, as Bryant returns to the court Sunday, Sept. 6 to close out the tournament with a faceoff against host Marist at 2 p.m.