Bryant falls to Saint Francis (PA), 3-0

BULLDOGS FALL TO RED FLASH AT HOME, 3-0, SUNDAY AFTERNOON

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Junior Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) led the Bryant University volleyball team with nine kills and posted a .500 attack percentage while sophomore libero Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) registered a match-best 15 digs, but the Bulldogs struggled to close in three tight sets, falling to Saint Francis (PA), 3-0, Sunday at home.

Lauren Wingard and Elizabeth Williams each posted a contest-high 11 kills for the Red Flash (10-12, 4-5 Northeast Conference) while Kierstin Kiser posted a match-best 35 assists for the visitors. Wingard also served up four of Saint Francis's 10 aces on the day and added 10 digs for the only double-double of the outing.

The Bulldogs (9-17, 3-7) saw three players chip in five kills each while rookie Jana Kmec (Stratford, Conn.) dished out 15 helpers. Clyburn and senior captain Emily Kaup (Chandler, Ariz.) paced the contest with three blocks apiece, as the Black and Gold outstuffed their opponents, 11-6.

As a team, Bryant hit at a .198 clip, while the Red Flash posted a .205 attack percentage with 43 kills to the Bulldogs' 30.

Bryant led the opening frame, 10-6, after a strong start out of the gates and maintained the edge until the visitors tied it up at 14-14. From there, Saint Francis would creep steadily out in front, eventually taking the first set by a 25-21 margin.

In the second, Lohr took the serve for the Bulldogs facing a 13-6 hole and held onto it for eight-straight points, including a pair scored on aces, allowing the home side to make up the deficit and take a 14-13 advantage. The remainder of the set would be a battle between the sides, marked by five more ties in the final 16 points (eight total in the frame). Bryant would earn a three-point edge late in the frame, 23-20, but the Red Flash came roaring back, taking the next five consecutive points for a 25-23 win and 2-0 match lead.

In the third, Wingard and Kayla Jeckell each posted four kills as the visitors recorded a trio of aces en route to a 25-21 victory to close out the match.

The Bulldogs now set off on a three-match road trip that will take them to nearby rival Holy Cross to close out non-conference play Wednesday night (7 p.m.) before returning to NEC action for road rematches against Sacred Heart (Oct. 27, 7 p.m.) and Quinnipiac (Oct. 30, 7 p.m.).