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Photo by DSPics.com
Photo by DSPics.com
Posted: Sep 20, 2018

Bryant opens NEC play with Pennsylvania pair at Chace

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team opens up Northeast Conference play this weekend with a pair of home matches as part of Homecoming @ Reunion, hosting Saint Francis U Friday and Robert Morris Saturday.

Fans who present their ticket from Saturday's Bryant Football game against Robert Morris at the Chace Athletic Center ticket table will receive free admission to the Saturday match against Robert Morris.

The Particulars
Opponents: Saint Francis U, Robert Morris
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Match Times: Saint Francis U – Friday, 6 p.m.; Robert Morris – Saturday, 5 p.m.
Friday Links: Live Stats | NEC Front Row
Saturday Links: Live Stats | NEC Front Row 

Series History vs. Saint Francis U
The Bulldogs are 8-11 against the Red Flash and have won three of the last four meetings. The teams split the season series a year ago, as Saint Francis snapped Bryant's 16-match home winning streak in October. 

Series History vs. Robert Morris
Bryant is 8-12 against Robert Morris after taking the last four matches from the Colonials. The Bulldogs picked up a pair of sweeps over the Colonials in 2017 with Julia Flynn (Pembroke, Mass.) averaging 4.67 kills per set in the two meetings. 

Bulldog Notes and Notables

  • Bryant is 9-7 on the year after a four-set defeat at Brown Tuesday. Senior Julia Malet (San Rafael, Calif.) recorded her second-consecutive double-double, while senior Kristin Kingi (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) matched her career-high with 21 digs.
  • Flynn was named to the all-tournament team at last weekend's Stony Brook Invite, tallying 15 or more kills in all three matches.
  • Flynn enters the weekend 68 kills shy of 1,000 for her collegiate career.
  • Freshman Haley O'Brien (Milton, Mass.) matched her career high with 10 kills Tuesday at Brown.
  • Junior Brianna Bruny (Biscayne Park, Fla.) and freshman Caroline Kennedy (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.) teamed up for blocks four times in Tuesday night's match.
  • Senior Kirstyn Sperry (Phoenix, Ariz.) has collected 147 career aces, good for fourth among active Division I players.
  • Head coach Theresa Garlacy won her 500th career match Sept. 8 against Coppin State. Garlacy has 503 career victories entering the weekend – all of them at Bryant.
  • Bryant is 40-5 (.889) at home since the start of 2015.

A Bit About Saint Francis U
The Red Flash is 1-12 entering NEC play with the victory coming Sept. 8 at Penn. Saint Francis is in a stretch of 15 straight matches away from Loretto to begin 2018. 

Madi Tyus leads the Red Flash with 3.33 kills per set and 0.29 aces per set while ranking second with 3.33 digs per set. Jess Barrett is averaging a team-high 3.81 digs per set.

A Bit About Robert Morris
The Colonials are 6-8 on the year but 6-2 in their last eight matches. Robert Morris went 2-1 at its home tournament last weekend with five-set wins over Eastern Michigan and Houston. 

Emma Granger leads Robert Morris with 2.49 kills per set, while Alyson Londot has added 2.38. Granger and Maria Alfano have each totaled 0.84 blocks per set in 2018.

Up Next: Hartford
Bryant plays its final midweek match of September when the Bulldogs travel to Hartford Tuesday. First serve against the Hawks is slated for 6 p.m.

Follow Bryant University volleyball on Twitter and Instagram to get an inside look at the program.