Bryant improves to 2-0 in NEC play with five-set victory over LIU Brooklyn

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team moved to 2-0 in Northeast Conference play with a five-set victory over LIU Brooklyn Saturday at the Chace Athletic Center.

Game Information
Bryant 3, LIU Brooklyn 2 (16-25, 25-19, 25-19, 19-25, 15-13)
Records: Bryant (11-7, 2-0 NEC); LIU Brooklyn (8-7, 1-1 NEC)
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)

Coach Garlacy's Comments
"Once again, we're playing for each other. No one cares who gets the credit as long as Bryant gets the win. The bench was such a great part of this victory for us." 

How it Happened

• Set 1 – LIU Brooklyn took a 10-1 lead to open the set before Bryant cut it to 15-11. After a kill by junior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) made it 17-13 LIU, the Blackbirds closed the set on a 8-3 run to go up 1-0.
• Set 2 – LIU led 14-7 before a pair of kills by senior Kiley Robbins (Garland, Texas) cut the deficit to five. The Bulldogs would follow with four more points to make it 14-13 LIU and took their first lead at 16-15. Bryant would score eight of the final 11 points of the set to even the match.
• Set 3 – Bryant opened the set up 12-5 and would lead by at least four until LIU cut it to two at 21-19. The Bulldogs would pull away with the final four points of the set, capped off by a kill from junior Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.).
• Set 4 – The Blackbirds took a 9-2 lead to begin the set and led by at least five the rest of the set. Junior Julia Malet (San Rafael, Calif.) tallied four of her 10 digs in the set.
• Set 5 – Bryant led 13-9 before LIU scored the next three points. Senior Ally Lunsford (Minneola, Fla.) recorded a kill and LIU answered with a point. Flynn followed with her sixth kill of the set to win the set and match.

Stats/Notes                                                         

• Flynn had a team-high 18 kills and added 13 digs in the victory.
• Sperry recorded 28 assists, matched her career-high with 21 digs and added eight kills.
• Robbins tallied 10 kills, while freshman Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) had 14 digs and Malet added 10.
• Bryant defeated LIU Brooklyn in Smithfield for the third year in a row.
• The Bulldogs have won 14 straight home matches and are 32-3 at the Chace Athletic Center since the start of 2015.

Up Next
Bryant is back in action Tuesday at 7 p.m. when the Bulldogs travel to UMass Lowell.