Posted: Sep 09, 2009

BULLDOGS FALL TO HOLY CROSS, 3-1, IN HOME OPENER WEDNESDAY NIGHT

September 09, 2009

BULLDOGS FALL TO HOLY CROSS, 3-1, IN HOME OPENER WEDNESDAY NIGHT

SMITHFIELD, R.I. - Despite getting off to a strong start and a first set win in Wednesday night's home opener, the Bryant University volleyball team couldn't hold onto an early lead, falling to Holy Cross, 3-1, at the Chace Athletic Center.

Sophomore duo Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) and Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) paced the Bulldogs with 14 kills apiece while junior captain Adrienne Boss (Dracut, Mass.) also tallied a double-digit kill day with 10, but it wouldn't be enough to stop the momentum of the Crusaders (1-5), who earned their first win of the season.

The Bulldogs (1-6) started off strong, taking a convincing 25-20 win in the opening set. Bryant led by as many as eight, 18-10, heading into the home stretch - thanks to eight-straight points off freshman Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) serves - before Holy Cross began to chip away at the lead. The Crusaders would pull within three, 23-20, before Bryant put the visitors away with two quick kills to take a 1-0 advantage in the match.

But from there, the Crusaders would slowly build momentum for the remainder of the contest.

The teams started off the second match in dueling fashion, trading points for much of the first half until Holy Cross took a four-point, 9-5 edge to force a Bryant timeout.

Out of the break, the Bulldogs temporarily took back a point, but wouldn't be able to stave off strong Crusader services. Boss brought the home side to within four, 18-14, but the Bulldogs would score just one more point - coming off a service error at 24-15 - before the challengers evened the match with a 25-15 win.

Bryant struggled again in the third set, despite getting four kills from Scocca, three from Stoner and two apiece from Mitravich and Boss. Four Crusaders recorded a trio of kills to lead the visitors to a 25-18 lead and a 2-1 match advantage.

And as the Holy Cross momentum grew, the Bulldogs began to fade, allowing the Crusader side four fourth-set aces, three to Angela Chisholm. The visiting side recorded seven blocks in the set to take an easy 25-13 win and a 3-1 match victory.

Three Holy Cross players collected double-digit kills on the day while setter Chelsey O'Donnell recorded a game-high 42 assists. Seniors Julie Geonnotti (Eden Prairie, Minn.) and Adriana Fuertes (Miramar, Puerto Rico) split the setting duties for the Bulldogs, grabbing 21 and 19, respectively. Junior libero Robyn Gardner (Longwood, Fla.) led the game defensively, earning 20 digs.

Holy Cross outblocked the Bulldogs, 10-1, with Callie Black leading the way on four total stuffs (2 BS, 2 BA). Rookie Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) recorded the Bulldogs' only block of the day.

But Bryant won't have time off to think about the loss, as the Bulldogs return to the court Thursday night (Sept. 10) when they travel to nearby Providence, R.I. to take on crosstown rival Brown University at 7 p.m.