Bulldogs split first day of Hampton Inn-vitational

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Led by standout performances by veterans and newcomers alike, the Bryant University volleyball team posted a strong showing Friday, splitting a pair of matches on day one of the 2014 Bryant Hampton Inn-vitational at the Chace Athletic Center.

The Bulldogs (1-1) started the season off strong in their opener, taking a 3-1 win over UMass Lowell (0-2) to jumpstart the 2014 campaign on the back of double-doubles from senior captain Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) and redshirt-freshman Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel).

Lohr, returning to her natural position at outside hitter in 2014, picked up 13 kills on the afternoon, adding an ace while finishing second on the team with 17 digs. But it was a rookie, middle blocker Alexandra Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.), who paced the match offensively, picking up a contest-high 14 kills to compliment a match-best six blocks in the four-set win.

Nesterov's 42 assists were also a high on the afternoon, and the setter added 10 digs for her first-career double-double, also putting up a trio of stuffs (1 solo). Junior transfer Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) posted 21 digs in her Bulldog debut.

Bryant opened the match with 25-22 and 25-19 wins over the River Hawks before dropping a tight 25-23 decision in the third frame. But the Bulldogs would reciprocate just one stanza later with a 25-23 win to take the match, 3-1.

Overall, the Bulldogs bested their opponents in nearly every category, edging out UMass Lowell in kills (55-40), hitting percentage (.175 -.075), digs (78-67), blocks (10-8) and aces (4-3). Masha Yelsukova picked up a double-double for the River Hawks as the only UMass Lowell player to reach double-figure kills (12k, 11d). Kylee Chun dished out 30 assists, while Hannah Rey paced the contest with 24 digs.

In the nightcap, the Bulldogs took Army (1-1) to four sets, needing extra points in the fourth frame before ultimately falling for the Black Knights, 3-1.

Bryant won the opening set, 25-19, behind five kills from Lohr and sophomore Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) but saw Army take over in the second en route to a 25-14 win to tie the match at 1-1. Army would take a 2-1 match advantage with a 25-19 third-set victory, and while the Bulldogs held a late lead in the fourth, the Black Knights would knock off the hosts with a 26-24 win for the 3-1 final.

Lohr once again paced the Black and Gold, picking up 15 kills while Nesterov totaled 34 assists with two blocks and a pair of aces. DePouw finished the match with nine kills, and Magalhaes paced the tilt with 20 digs.

Bryant returns to action Saturday, wrapping up the 2014 Hampton Inn-vitational with matches against Towson (12 p.m.) and St. John's (7 p.m.).