Bryant knocks off Syracuse in comeback fashion for fifth-straight victory

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. – The Bryant University volleyball team won its fifth-straight match with a five-set, come-from-behind victory over Syracuse Friday to open the Hofstra/Asics Invitational.

Game Information
Bryant 3, Syracuse 2 (17-25, 19-25, 25-15, 25-20, 15-10)
Records: Bryant 7-6, Syracuse 6-5
Location: Mack Physical Education Center (Hempstead, N.Y.)

Coach Garlacy's Comments
"We started out very slow tonight, but gradually began playing with the confidence and pride we have within us. We all served extremely tough and kept them out of system.

"Kirstyn Sperry had seven aces, Ally Lunsford set the tone with a .429 clip with two blocks and Julia Flynn had 14 kills and 14 digs. It was an overall, hardcore, full-team effort."

How it Happened

• Set 1 – Syracuse jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the opening set, but Bryant was able to even it at 8-8 after three straight Orange attack errors. After a kill from senior Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) cut the Syracuse lead to 13-10, the Orange rattled off a 7-0 run to take control of the set.
• Set 2 – Three aces from junior Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) and two kills from senior Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) gave Bryant a 5-0 lead to open the set. The Bulldogs would lead 16-15 in the second before Syracuse closed the set on a 10-3 run.
• Set 3 – The Bulldogs opened the set up 4-0 thanks in part to a kill and an ace from Sperry. Syracuse would cut the Bryant lead to 10-9 before the Bulldogs pulled away on an 8-1 run.
• Set 4 – Bryant took its first lead of the set at 11-10 and would lead the rest of the way. Junior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) had four kills in the set to help the Bulldogs force a fifth set.
• Set 5 – The Bulldogs led 12-5 in the fifth before Syracuse brought it to within 13-10. The Bulldogs answered, as junior Grace Richmeyer (DeSoto, Mo.) came up with a kill before a match-point ace from Sperry won it for Bryant. 

Stats/Notes                                                         

• Flynn tallied 14 kills and 14 digs in the victory, recording her third double-double in her last four matches and eighth of the season in 11 matches played.
• Lunsford notched 11 kills on a .429 hitting percentage, while Robbins recorded 12 kills.
• Sperry's seven aces were the most by a Bulldog since Elena Lohr had nine at St. Francis Brooklyn in 2013. The junior added four kills, 29 assists and two blocks.
• Richmeyer and sophomore Brianna Bruny (Biscayne Park, Fla.) had three blocks each.
• Freshman Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) recorded 14 digs, while junior Kristin Kingi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) added 10.
• The victory was the second over a Power 5 program since joining Division I. The previous win came in 2010 over Boston College.
• Bryant improves to 1-1 all-time against Syracuse.

Up Next
Bryant plays twice tomorrow, taking on Hofstra at 10 a.m. and Binghamton at 4 p.m. in the second and final day of the Hofstra/Asics Invitational.