Bulldogs claim Hampton Inn-vitational title with 3-1 win over Iona Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind 11 kills apiece from rookies Sophie Hoekstra (Millersville, Md.) and Margot Ruffieux (Cary, N.C.) and another double-double from sophomore setter Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel), the Bryant University volleyball team completed a 3-1 win over Iona to claim to 2015 Hampton Inn-vitational title Saturday afternoon at home.

Senior Taylor Onoyan (Crystal Lake, Ill.) dominated at the net Saturday, collecting eight blocks – including three solo stuffs – to earn all-tournament team accolades. She added six kills on the day and finished the weekend with 16 total blocks.

Senior libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) was stellar defensively for the Bulldogs (3-0), grabbing 20 digs to earn her own all-tournament nomination, finishing the three-match weekend with 62 digs and four aces.

Nesterov dished out 25 assists with 12 digs for her third-straight double-double effort, while rookie setter Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) added 16 helpers with seven digs. Nesterov earned tournament MVP honors, leading the Bulldogs in kills (32) and assists (74) on the weekend while adding two aces, 30 digs and eight blocks.

The Bulldogs trailed through the majority of the first stanza despite posting five team blocks in the opening game. Iona (2-1) would see Amanda Gannon (match-high 14 kills) and Claire Archibald (12 kills, 10 digs) combine for nine kills to guide the visitors to the 25-20 win, the only match lead any opponent took over the Bulldogs in the tournament.

Three-straight aces and four-consecutive points from Magalhaes in the second set gave the Bulldogs a 19-11 lead en route to a 25-16 win that would tie the match at 1-1. Bryant maintained control in the third, breaking an 11-11 tie by scoring eight of the next 11 points and outscoring the Gaels, 14-8, through the end of the frame for the 25-19 victory and 2-1 match advantage.

Behind two solo stuffs from Onoyan and six kills from frosh Kristin Kingi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) (9 kills, 14 digs), the Bulldogs continued to look strong in the fourth, cruising to a 25-16 win capped off by back-to-back Hoekstra kills to take home a 3-1 match victory and the 2015 Hampton Inn-vitational title.

As a team, the Bulldogs hit .287 on the day, totaling 11 aces and 13 team blocks. Iona was paced defensively by all-tournament team libero Jessica Paolucci (19 digs), while setters Emma Rose and Natalie Ziskin tallied 25 and 15 assists, respectively.

The Bulldogs return to action at home Tuesday night, hosting intrastate rival Providence College at the Chace Athletic Center at 7:00 p.m.