Bulldogs open at home vs. Hartford Tuesday (7p)

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team will look to put an end to its early season struggles Tuesday night when it takes the court at home for the first time all season, hosting the University of Hartford at 7 p.m.

The Bulldogs (0-10) have spent the first two weeks of 2013 away from home on a 10-match road stretch dating back to Aug. 30. Tuesday, they will play the first official contest on the team's newly renovated court in Bryant's Chace Athletic Center, hoping a friendlier arena will be one key to victory for the Black and Gold.

The Hawks (2-9) come to Smithfield looking to play spoiler, as well as snap a five-match losing skid of their own in the Bulldogs' home opener. Led by Corinne Horanzy's team-high 83 kills and 2.18 kills per set, Hartford will look to get its first Ocean State win after falling to the University of Rhode Island in its last outing Saturday afternoon.

Jackie Tamburri is the team's top playmaker, putting up 8.58 assists per set (326) so far in 2013, while also dishing out a team-leading 12 aces with 28 kills and 106 digs. Dionna Kirton has 10 aces of her own in 11 matches and 10 starts and also leads the team on defense, registering a side-best 113 digs (2.97/set). She is also second on the team offensively, with 72 kills (1.89/set).

At the net, the Hawks rely on the blocking prowess of Lindsay Anderson, who has 22 blocks (3 solo) so far this season, double that of her closest teammate, Chandler Goodwin (11 blocks, 1 solo). This fall, Hartford has earned wins over Canisius, 3-1, and UMass Lowell, 3-0.

For the Black and Gold, rookie Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) enters the midweek bout fresh off the best performances of her young career Sunday at the Brown Invitational. Her seven-ace, 11-block day vaulted her into the team lead in both categories (10 aces, 19 total blocks), while her 22-kill afternoon marks her for second on the team offensively behind sophomore Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.), who boasts 85 kills (2.58/set) entering Tuesday's home opener. Van Dyk also adds 59 digs, good for third on the team, with nine blocks in 2013.

Sophomore setter Jana Kmec (Stratford, Conn.) has run the offense in each of the team's opening 10 bouts and averages 7.24 helpers per frame (239 total). Kmec also has four aces to her name with 66 digs and six blocks. Junior captain Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) is the leader on defense for the Black and Gold, as the libero picks up 3.21 digs per set (106 on the year) with 16 assists and five aces.

Overall, the Bulldogs look to improve upon team numbers that have them trailing opponents in kills, assists, aces, digs and blocks on average on the young season and hope to spark some momentum on the court heading into this weekend's home tournament, the Bryant Invitational.

Tuesday's match can be seen live and free of charge on NEC Front Row. Fans can also follow along on live stats or via Twitter with @BryantGameday.