Bulldogs drop NEC opener to CCSU, 3-1, on road despite trio of double-doubles

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Rookie Natascha Scarff (Geneva, Switzerland) posted a career-high and match-best 17 kills, completing her second-career double-double with 14 digs, but the Bryant University volleyball team dropped its 2014 Northeast Conference opener to Central Connecticut, 3-1, Saturday on the road.

Scarff's double-double was one of three such efforts for the Bulldogs (3-16, 0-1 NEC) Saturday, who also got 10 kills and 12 digs from senior captain Elena Lohr (Loveland, Ohio) and 30 assists with 10 digs from redshirt-frosh setter Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel).

Rookie Alexandra Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) showed off her skill at the net, putting up a match-best nine blocks, including a pair of solo stuffs, to go along with four kills. Defensively, it was once again junior libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) who paced the tilt with 22 digs.

The Blue Devils (5-8, 1-0) got 14 kills from Heather Trueman and Cassidy Stankowski with 11 more from Rachel Dunlap in the four-match victory. CCSU took a 1-0 lead with a 25-18 victory in the opening set before Bryant tied the score with a 25-23 win in set two. The Blue Devils won the third frame, 25-22, and wrapped up the match with a 25-11 score in the fourth.

Makenna Lommori posted a match-high 46 assists with 12 digs for the first of three Blue Devil double-doubles, with Trueman and Stankowski both adding 15 digs to their respective 14-kill performances. Dunlap posted six blocks to pace the home side.

Despite the loss, Scarff added four blocks to her day, while classmate Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) put up three stuffs to compliment five kills. Sophomore middle blocker Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) added 10 kills of her own with an ace and three blocks, while Nesterov's two aces were a contest best.

Bryant next returns home for the first time since September 9 when it hosts UMass Lowell on Tuesday night (7 p.m.) for the second time this season. The Bulldogs won the first matchup between the sides, 3-1, to open the 2014 season.