Clyburn, DePouw pace Bryant despite 3-1 loss

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior Alexandria Clyburn (Cartersville, Ga.) and rookie Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) paced the Bryant University volleyball team with 10 kills apiece, but the pair couldn't lead the Bulldogs past intrastate foe Providence College Wednesday night on the road, falling, 3-1.

The Bulldogs (2-14) worked their way out of an early 0-1 hole, taking the second set from the Friars (7-9), 25-23, but the Black and Gold dropped the next two, 25-21 and 25-20, to fall in four sets. Clyburn and DePouw posted the team's top hitting percentages, at .400 and .348, respectively, while the latter added nine digs and three blocks, including two solo stuffs.

Frosh Mallory Wilczynski (Cary, Ill.) and junior captain Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) each chipped in eight kills with 10 and 11 digs, respectively, while sophomore setter Jana Kmec (Stratford, Conn.) picked up a double-double with 36 assists and 12 digs.

Sophomore outside hitter Claire Van Dyk (New Richmond, Wis.) added seven kills with a team-leading 18 digs. She and Kmec each served up two aces in the outing, while DePouw and Lohr each added one more for four Bulldog aces on the evening.

Providence was led by a match-best 16 kills from Kayla Fitzgerald, followed by 10 more from Lindsay Witt. Setter Jordan Wiesler recorded her own double-double with 40 helpers and 14 digs, while Michelle Cruz pace the contest defensively with 22 digs and four service aces. Fitzgerald also served up four aces and added 17 digs with two blocks.

As a team, the Bulldogs hit at a .140 clip and totaled 48 kills, 68 digs and five blocks. The Black and Gold return to action Saturday for their Northeast Conference opener at LIU Brooklyn (1:00 p.m.).