Bulldogs shut out Holy Cross to cap invite

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) capped off a huge weekend with a 10-kill night while sophomore Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) put up a contest-high five blocks with a match-best .429 attack percentage, vaulting the Bryant University volleyball team to a 3-0 win over Holy Cross in the closing match of the 2011 Bryant Invitational.

Stoner, along with teammate and co-captain Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.), earned all-tournament team honors for her efforts, and Scocca chipped in seven kills with two blocks en route to the straight-set win over the Crusaders (4-5). Clyburn also added seven kills with just one error for her match-leading attack percentage, pacing a Bryant (3-6) side that outblocked its opponent, 16-9, on the evening.

Junior libero Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) picked up 24 digs, a high on the contest, as Stoner added 10 more for her fifth double-double of the season and second of the weekend. Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) dished out a match-leading 20 assist with a pair of aces while counterpart Leigh Fishback (Edmonds, Wash.) had a big day on the floor with 13 helpers and three aces of her own.

Mariah Burgess (Urbana, Ill.) and Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) were strong on the block, collecting four and three stuffs, respectively, while the pair chipped in four and seven kills, respectively, as well. Rookie Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) made her home debut against Holy Cross, starring in a back-and-forth third set with four kills on nine attacks, also scooping up three digs and just her second-career block in the frame.

Tournament MVP Megan Lynch paced the match with 11 kills despite the Crusaders' loss. Joining the trio on the Bryant Invitational All-Tournament Team were Harvard libero Christine Wu and middle blocker Teresa Skelly, and University of Maryland-Eastern Short outside hitters Saitaua Iosia and Maline Vaitai.

On the three-match weekend, Stoner paced the Bulldogs with 32 kills, averaging 2.91 per set for the tournament, good for fourth among all Bryant Invitational players. Scocca's .357 attack percentage (24 kills, just four errors) was a not just team best, but also tied Skelly as the highest hitting percentage in the tournament. Lorenzo totaled seven service aces (ranked second) and 63 assists, while Mitravich collected 73 digs, averaging 6.64 per set – a tournament high. Both Scocca and Clyburn finished the tournament with 10 blocks.

Bryant returns to the court Tuesday, Sept. 13, when the Black and Gold host the University of Hartford at the Chace Athletic Center for a 7 p.m. matchup.