Bulldogs fall to Brown in four sets Saturday in Providence

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After dropping the first two sets, the Bryant University volleyball team took set three but could not force a decisive fifth set, as it fell to Brown in four (20-25, 18-25, 25-22, 18-25) Saturday afternoon in the final contest of the Crusader Classic.

Despite match highs of 21 digs for freshman Nikki Kim (River Edge, N.J.), 17 kills for sophomore Julia Flynn (Pembroke Mass.) and 30 assists for senior Vika Katzen (Kfar Saba, Israel), the Bulldogs (2-6) could not overcome 14 blocks and a .295 hitting percentage from the Bears (1-2).

Bryant took an early 9-6 lead in the first set, but fell victim to a 19-11 run to close out the frame. The set remained close over the next 24 points, with no side taking more than a three-point advantage. But the hosts closed out the opening set winning five of the last six points for a 25-20 victory.

The second set was much more decisive in favor of the Bears. After a Makena Ehlert kill made it 9-6 favoring the hosts, they would let Bryant within three points just once and went on to win the set, 25-18. Ehlert and Payton Smith each had four kills in the set for the Bears, while Sarah Lucenti and Elisa Merten combined for 12 assists and libero Melissa Cairo notched six digs.

Following a Margot Ruffieux (Cary, N.C.) attack error to make it 11-10 in favor of the Bears in the third set, the sophomore made up for the blunder with a kill to cap off a run and make it 14-11 visitors. The Bears would claw back to make it 21-19, but the Bulldogs were able to hold off their intrastate foes and win the third set, 25-22. Ruffieux registered five kills in the set and Flynn tallied four.

In the fourth set, Sabrina Stillwell had one of just three attack errors on her .417 hitting percentage day, giving a 10-7 edge. But the Bears went on a 6-0 run to take a 13-10 lead with Ehlert serving for five of the points. Brown maintained a three-point lead the rest of the way to win the set, 25-18, and hand Bryant a fifth-straight defeat.

Flynn added 11 digs to her 17 kills and was named to the all-tournament team for the Crusader Classic. Ruffieux totaled 12 kills and Kim's 21 digs were a career high. But the Bulldogs were controlled at the net, registering just two blocks and converting attacks at just a .191 percent clip.

Stillwell led the Bears with 13 kills, as the home team was aided by double-doubles from Ehlert (11 kills, 11 digs) and Lucenti (24 assists, 12 digs). Smith added 10 kills and Mertens added 17 assists in the win.  

The Bulldogs will return to the court and the Chace Athletic Center on Tuesday against the University of New Hampshire, with first serve scheduled for 7:00 p.m.