Bryant hosts Merrimack for conference opener

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team kicks off the Northeast Conference schedule in Smithfield on Monday, March 1 against Merrimack. The double-header with begin at 5 p.m. on NEC Front Row.

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: Merrimack
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Time: Game one – 5 p.m. | Game two – 7 p.m.
Live Stats: Presto Stats - Game one | Game two
Watch: NEC Front Row - Game one | Game two

SCOUTING THE WARRIORS

• Merrimack played both Rhode Island and Northeastern to open the 2021 season. Both non-conference opponents swept the Warriors, 3-0.
• The Warriors post a .078 hitting percentage and combined for 35 kills across their first two matches.
• Sophomore Maegan Hladick leads the team with 11 kills while junior Brooke Leestma trails with 10.
• Junior Natasha Vallis is the team leader in blocks with five as she denied three at Rhode Island followed by a pair against Northeastern.
• Merrimack is led by first-year head coach Stephanie Kazmierczak.

BULLDOGS NOTES AND NOTABLES

• The Bulldogs opened the season at Providence for their lone non-conference matchup of the season and fell, 3-1.
• Junior Caroline Kennedy led the team with 21 kills and a hitting percentage of .283. As a team, Bryant posts a hitting percentage of .140.
• Freshman Fabiana Castro kicked off her career with 10 kills against the Friars and finished the match with five digs, one block, one assist, and one service ace.
• Bryant's Division I leader in digs, Erika Ward, posted 20 digs at PC.
• Sophomore Alysa Wright is Bryant's leader in blocks after she tallied a career-high of nine.
• Last game, junior Jenna Knight shattered her career-high in assists with 36.