Bryant downs Holy Cross in five-set thriller

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior captain Jazmin Stoner (Durango, Colo.) picked a good time for a career night, as the outside hitter recorded her first 20-20 double-double and set new career highs with 24 kills and 20 digs to lead the Bryant University volleyball team to a thrilling 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Holy Cross Wednesday at the Chace Athletic Center.

Stoner's 24 kills came with an impressive .383 attack percentage and came with just six errors in 47 attacking attempts as the Bulldogs (8-12) turned a 2-1 Holy Cross (6-14) lead on its head in set four, clawing back from a 21-19 deficit to knot the game at 21-21 – the first of seven ties from that point on in the frame. The Crusaders' Elizabeth Watters served an ace to get the visitors to match point at 25-24, but the Black and Gold tied the game at 25-25 before taking their first chance at set point. Bryant would need two more chances to close out the stanza before rookie Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) dropped in her only kill of the night for a 29-27 set-four win and a 2-2 draw in the match.

In the deciding set, the Bulldogs took an 8-5 lead that they stretched to 10-6 on a Stoner ace and looked to be cruising to the win, but the Crusaders wouldn't go away that easily, scoring four of the next five points to draw within one, 11-10. Bryant would go on a short run of its own capped off by an Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) kill to go up on visiting Holy Cross, 14-11, and despite two more points from the Crusaders, took the final frame, 15-13, for a crucial win to secure the season sweep over the Purple and White.

Junior libero Macy Mitravich (Waimanalo, Hawaii) recorded a match-best 21 digs in the efforts to lead a Bulldog defense that was on for most of the night, allowing just a single ace and out-digging its opponent, 76-60.

Classmate Jadith Lorenzo (Lawrence, Mass.) also registered a double-double with 41 assists and 10 digs, while Kendall Gaffney (Colorado Springs, Colo.) picked up a season-high 14 kills with an ace and three blocks. Senior captain Maria Scocca (Melrose, Mass.) also knocked down double-figure kills with 12, adding a match-best six blocks to her evening. Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) recorded 11 kills with a pair of blocks and aces in the win.

Crusader Megan Lynch had the night's top numbers despite the loss, registering a match-high 34 kills with a .395 hitting percentage to compliment 13 digs and a trio of blocks. Hannah Grace Stokes put up 54 assists to pace both sides in the outing, while Callie Black recorded five stuffs to lead Holy Cross.

The Bulldogs will look to take their momentum on the road, as Bryant next travels to Pennsylvania for a pair of weekend matchups against Robert Morris (Saturday, 3 p.m.) and Saint Francis (PA) (Sunday, 1 p.m.).