Bulldogs' streak snapped at hands of LIU Brooklyn, 3-0, Sunday afternoon

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Sophomore setter Vika Nesterov (Kfar Saba, Israel) recorded the only double-double of the afternoon, but the Bryant University volleyball team suffered a 3-0 setback to LIU Brooklyn on the road Sunday afternoon.

Nesterov posted 21 assists and 12 digs with five kills for the Bulldogs (16-11, 7-2 Northeast Conference), who saw their five-match win streak snapped at the hands of the Blackbirds (8-12, 7-2). Sophomore Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) paced the Bryant offense with six kills, while rookies Kristin Kingi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) and Sophie Hoekstra (Millersville, Md.) chipped in five apiece. Kingi added nine digs, while senior libero Debora Magalhaes (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) led both defenses on the day with 18 digs.

Mirjana Rajic and Tamara Ignjic led the way with nine kills for the home side, while Nicole Hopton dished out 27 assists with five digs. Mengdi Zhao and Nicole Okeke were both strong at the net for the Blackbirds, registering six blocks apiece, while Ignjic added five more in the three-set win. Adriana Vinas Joy posted 12 digs for LIU Brooklyn.

The Blackbirds' strong play at the net (15 team blocks) and stellar serving (10 aces) paved the way for the straight-set victories, 25-15, 25-18 and 25-15. The Bulldogs saw three aces, including two from freshman Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.), but got just a pair of team blocks.

As a unit, Bryant hit only .030 on the day, while LIU Brooklyn posted a .299 attack percentage with 34 kills.

The Bulldogs look to get back on track when they return home to host Fairleigh Dickinson University Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Chace Athletic Center (1:00 p.m.).