Ward, Wild to serve as captains this spring

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Bryant University head volleyball coach Theresa Garlacy has announced the program's captains for the 2021 spring season. Seniors Erika Ward and Mackenzie Wild were elected to leadership roles by the team and coaching staff.

Originally, Sydney Gorski served as co-captain of the Bulldogs alongside Ward during the fall before graduating in December. Wild was then selected to help lead Bryant this spring. 

"MacKenzie has worked extremely hard on the court, in the weight room, and in the classroom earning the respect and trust of her teammates," said Garlacy. "Over winter break she completed leadership training and gained insight into what it will take to bring this team to a championship season. [Wild] and Erika are no strangers to working together as they were both high school and club teammates prior to coming to Bryant. The pair communicates well with their teammates and are both fiercely competitive. I expect that they will keep this team focused during what will be a semester filled with unexpected and last-minute schedule adjustments. The expectations are high for our 'Fall in Spring' season."

Wild has played an integral role for the Black and Gold during her time in Smithfield as she helped the Bulldogs to 58 wins in her first three seasons. An opposite hitter from Rochester, Michigan, Wild helped guide the Bulldogs to its first-ever NEC Championship in 2018 and has accumulated 67 kills and 26 blocks in her career. Wild will graduate in May 2021 with a degree in Psychology.

Ward has been an anchor in the Bulldogs' back row since arriving in Smithfield in 2017. The libero from Michigan is Bryant's Division I career record-holder in digs with 1,412 in her first three seasons in Black & Gold and averaged 4.31 per set during Bryant's 2018 NEC Championship season, earning second-team All-NEC honors. Ward is climbing the Bryant career aces list as well with 82 in her career. A three-time NEC Academic Honor Roll recipient with Commissioner's Honor Roll distinction in the last two seasons, Ward will graduate in May 2021 with a degree in Global Supply Chain Management.

Unlike previous years, Bryant is set to open the 2021 slate this spring with more information still to come.

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