Bryant hosts CCSU in NEC clash Tuesday
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team closes out a key five-match NEC homestand when the Bulldogs host Central Connecticut at the Chace Athletic Center Tuesday night.
The Particulars
Opponent: Central Connecticut
Match Time: Tuesday – 7 p.m.
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Tickets: Tuesday
Watch: NEC Front Row
Live Stats: Presto Sports
All-Time Series: Central Connecticut leads, 17-9 (15-8 D1)
LAST TIME OUT: SACRED HEART 3, BRYANT 0
The Bulldogs collected a season-high 13 blocks, but Sacred Heart left the Chace with a three-set victory over Bryant Saturday night.
ABOUT THE BLUE DEVILS
Central Connecticut is 7-10 overall and 3-2 in the NEC after a four-set loss to Sacred Heart Friday. The Blue Devils have taken at least one set in 16 of their 17 matches this season.
Emma Henderson's 2.92 kills per set lead the Blue Devils, while Madelyn Kaprelyan has added 2.29 kills and 0.77 blocks per set. Ashlyn Eisenga has posted a team-high 4.11 digs per set.
BLOCK & GOLD
Bryant's 13 blocks in Saturday's match against Sacred Heart are tied for the most by an NEC team in a three-set match this season. Saturday's performance was the first of 13 blocks in a three-set match since 2016 vs. Hartford.
WARD-WINNING PERFORMANCE
Junior Erika Ward (Rochester, Mich.) brought her career dig total to 1,256 with her efforts last weekend. The junior from Michigan passed Kirstyn Sperry in September for third in Bryant's Division I era in career digs and enters the weekend 119 back of Kristin Kingi's program record.
SETTING THE STAGE FOR SUCCESS
The duo of junior Alisi Motu'apuaka (Virginia Beach, Va.) and freshman Mia Cergol (East Northport, N.Y.) has set Bryant to team hitting percentages of .372, .427 and .333 in three of the Bulldogs' last four matches. Motu'apuaka was named to the all-tournament team in two of Bryant's four non-conference weekend invitationals.
HITTING A HIGH NOTE
Bryant's .427 hitting percentage in the Oct. 4 sweep of Saint Francis U was its third-highest mark in the program's Division I era and best since 2008. The Bulldogs, who hit .372 in last week's win at Merrimack, have recorded their two highest hitting percentages in the last three seasons over their last four matches.
RILEY'S RECORD DAY
Freshman Riley James (Pocasset, Mass.) hit .468 with 24 kills in the Sept. 28 win over St. Francis Brooklyn, giving the freshman from Massachusetts the Bryant Division I record for kills by a freshman in a single match.
James leads the Bulldogs with 2.57 kills per set in her freshman year, is first in aces per set (0.40) and second in digs per set (2.70).
UNDERCLASSMEN LEADING THE ATTACK
Bryant has seen 90.7% of its kills come from its sophomores and freshmen in 2019. The Bryant sophomores, led by Kennedy (2.49 per set) have contributed 45.4%, while the freshmen, with James pacing the group (2.58 per set) have collected 45.3%.
UP NEXT: LONG ISLAND
Bryant travels to Brooklyn for a Saturday meeting with Long Island at 4 p.m.
Tickets for 2019 home matches at the Chace Athletic Center are available by clicking HERE.
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