Bryant's struggles continue despite DePouw's career effort

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Freshman Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) put up a career day to lead the Bryant University volleyball team, amassing 22 kills, seven aces and 11 blocks in a pair of matches, but the Bulldogs' struggles continued Saturday afternoon, dropping 3-0 and 3-2 decisions to Brown and Holy Cross, respectively.

DePouw put up a career-high 14 kills and personal-best nine blocks in the nightcap as the Bulldogs (0-10) took the Crusaders (4-5) to a fifth set, and the rookie added eight kills and a career-best five aces in the early bout against tournament host Brown (2-4) in the best performances of her young career. She was also named to the Brown Invitational All-Tournament Team.

Against the Bears, sophomore Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) paced Bryant with a match-high 12 kills, and classmate Jana Kmec (Stratford, Conn.) paced the game with 24 assists while both chipped in six digs in the outing. Junior captain Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) added a side-best 11 digs against the Bulldogs' intrastate foe, but Brown hit with 43.8 percent accuracy and posted 14 blocks to top the Black and Gold, 25-18, 25-20, 25-17.

All three were strong again against Holy Cross in the final contest of the Brown Invitational to complement DePouw's leading effort. Kmec registered her second double-double of the year with a match-best 38 assists and 11 digs, while Van Dyk put down nine kills with 10 digs and a trio of aces. Lohr's 21 digs marked a side best as the Bulldogs put up 69 digs as a squad.

Senior Kaitlyn Klein (Modesto, Calif.) was also instrumental in the Bulldogs' best showing of the season, adding 12 kills and six blocks to help lead a Bryant blocking corps that totaled 21 stuffs on the match.

Natalie Welsch would lead the Crusaders and the match offensively, recording 22 kills while Katie McKernan posted a double-double of her own with 27 assists and 16 digs. Emily Popp paced the game on defense with 26 digs, adding two aces in the effort.

After starting the season with 10-straight road contests, the Bulldogs finally return home for their next matchup, but will have little time to prepare. The University of Hartford visits the Chace Athletic Center for Bryant's home opener Tuesday night at 7 p.m.