Bulldogs to host 13 matches in 2018 slate
2018 Schedule
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head volleyball coach Theresa Garlacy has announced the Bulldogs' schedule for the upcoming 2018 season.
The Black and Gold look to build on the success of a 2017 campaign in which Bryant captured its first Northeast Conference regular season championship and won a Division I program-record 21 matches. Bryant returns 11 players from the 2017 team, including NEC Setter of the Year Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) and fellow first-team all-conference selection Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.).
"This year's schedule is challenging yet attainable with the leadership of our five seniors," said Garlacy. "Based on this spring's work ethic and competitive edge, Julia Flynn, Kristin Kingi, Julia Malet, Grace Richmeyer and Kirstyn Sperry have their eyes set on repeating as NEC regular season champions and winning the conference tournament."
The 2018 slate opens in Chicago with three matches at UIC. The Bulldogs will open the season with a Friday night contest against the host Flames (Aug. 24) before a pair of matches the next day against Central Michigan and UMES (Aug. 25).
Bryant begins its home schedule with a Tuesday matinee against UMass Lowell (Aug. 29) before traveling to the Bronx for the Rose Hill Classic. The Bulldogs open the event against Charlotte and their second meeting in a week with UMES (Aug. 31) before facing host Fordham the following day (Sept. 1).
The Bulldogs will play all four Tuesdays in September, with the lone home contest a match against New Hampshire (Sept. 4). It will be the first of four straight at the friendly confines of the Chace Athletic Center, as the Bulldogs host the Hampton Inn-vitational (Sept. 7-8). Bryant will square off with Middle Tennessee on the Friday before facing Coppin State and former NEC foe Quinnipiac in Saturday matches.
An in-state clash at Providence (Sept. 11) will be followed by three matches on Long Island for a tournament hosted by defending America East champion Stony Brook (Sept. 14-15). Bryant will play two Friday matches, facing Delaware and the host Seawolves, before a Saturday contest against Colgate. Bryant will spend a second-straight Tuesday in the state capital with a match at Brown (Sept. 18) to lead into NEC play.
The conference docket begins at home with Saint Francis U (Sept. 21) and Robert Morris (Sept. 22) on Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. The Red Flash were the lone team to trip up the Bulldogs in Smithfield a year ago, as Bryant has gone 36-4 at the Chace Athletic Center since 2015.
A non-conference date at Hartford (Sept. 25) and a weekend trip to Brooklyn will close out September, as Bryant faces reigning NEC champion LIU Brooklyn (Sept. 28) and St. Francis Brooklyn (Sept. 29).
October begins at home with Sacred Heart (Oct. 5) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Oct. 6). Bryant faced a 2-0 deficit in both meetings with the Pioneers in 2017 but emerged victorious in five sets in both contests.
Bryant will play its next three on the road with a short trip to Central Connecticut (Oct. 12) followed by a longer trip to Saint Francis U (Oct. 19) and Robert Morris (Oct. 20). The Blue Devils will play in Smithfield on Dig Pink Night (Oct. 27) before a non-conference home match against Dartmouth (Oct. 30) closes out the month.
The Bulldogs will spend the first weekend of November on the road at Sacred Heart (Nov. 2) and Fairleigh Dickinson (Nov. 3) before returning home for the final weekend of NEC play against LIU Brooklyn (Nov. 9) and St. Francis Brooklyn on Senior Night (Nov. 10).
The NEC tournament will be played Nov. 16-17 at the site of the No. 1 seed with the winner earning the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament.
Follow Bryant University volleyball on Twitter and Instagram for an inside look at the program.