Bulldogs stumble against UMass Lowell, fall in three sets Tuesday on road

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Despite three closely contested sets and eight kills from sophomore middle blocker Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.), the Bryant University volleyball team saw its three-game winning streak snapped at the hands of UMass Lowell, 3-0, Tuesday on the road.

Two of the match's three sets required extra points to decide the frame, as the River Hawks (3-13) took down the Bulldogs (10-9) in straight sets, 26-24, 25-23 and 28-26.

Lunsford added two blocks and a pair of aces to her night, while a trio of teammates – sophomore Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) and freshmen Margot Ruffieux (Cary, N.C.) and Sophie Hoekstra (Millersville, Md.) – chipped in six kills each.

Sophomore setter Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel) paced the match with 25 assists (6 digs, 2 aces) and senior libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) led the contest defensively with 15 digs. Ruffieux added 11 digs of her own in the outing.

UMass Lowell saw a pair of players finish in double figures, with Rachel Arnason leading the way with 14 kills. Haley Shimon added 10 more, while Lade Adeniyi and Elima Ahzi contributed eight kills each to help pace the attack.

Setters Alexa Toth and Delaney Mendez dished out 22 and 20 assists, respectively, while the River Hawk defensive load was shared across its ranks. Adeniyi posted seven block assists in the victory, pacing 10 team blocks for the hosts.

On the night, UMass Lowell outhit Bryant, .248 to .162, and won the battle for kills, 43-38, and blocks, 10-3. The Bulldog defense posted 45 digs to the River Hawks' 31.

Bryant returns to the court and Northeast Conference play Saturday and Sunday, taking on FDU Friday at 1:00 p.m. before heading to Sacred Heart Sunday afternoon (1:00 p.m.).