Bryant drops three-set decision to CCSU

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Central Connecticut received a 21-kill performance from Makenna Lommori and hit at a .278 clip Saturday afternoon, halting the Bryant University volleyball team's three-match winning streak and handing the Bulldogs a 3-0 loss at home.

The loss came despite two Bryant (8-19, 4-4 Northeast Conference) players to reach double-figure kills, with rookie Natascha Scarff (Geneva, Switzerland) leading the way with 14. Scarff added a block and six digs, while sophomore Sara DePouw (Oconto, Wis.) chipped in 10 kills and a .381 attack percentage with three blocks and one of three Bulldog aces.

Lommori was the only Blue Devil (8-12, 4-4) to record double-digit kills, with six more coming from Brooke Schwab and Nicole Celarek. Ashley Lenington posted a match-best 44 assists, while Schwab led the way defensively with 12 digs. Lommori and Rachel Dunlap (9 kills) each added a trio of blocks.

Junior libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) paced the match with 17 digs for the Black and Gold, while redshirt-rookie Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel) doled out 26 assists. DePouw, rookie Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) and senior Jocelyn Taylor (Marlborough, Conn.) all tied the match high with three blocks.

The first set saw the Blue Devils hit at a .483 clip with just a pair of attack errors en route to a 25-17 victory before the visitors overcame a 19-16 deficit to tie the second set at 22-22. Off the service of Lommori, the Blue Devils would get the next three points on a block, ace and Bryant error to take a 2-0 match lead with a 25-22 win in the frame. The third saw CCSU complete the sweep despite a late Bulldog charge, taking a 26-24 victory for the three-set win.

The Bulldogs will play their final non-league matchup of the season Tuesday night, traveling to Worcester, Mass., for a 7:05 p.m. matchup against Holy Cross.