Bulldogs to host CCSU on Tuesday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University volleyball team returns to Smithfield when they host Central Connecticut in a Northeast Conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. on NEC Front Row.

THE PARTICULARS
Opponent: Central Connecticut
Location: Chace Athletic Center (Smithfield, R.I.)
Time: Match 1 – 2 p.m. | Match 2 – 5 p.m.
Live Stats: Presto Stats - Match 1 | Match 2
Watch Live: NEC Front Row - Match 1 | Match 2

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS

• Central Connecticut only played against NEC opponents this season as they post a 3-3 record. The Blue Devils were swept by Sacred Heart before sweeping Merrimack and splitting with LIU.
• Bryant is 10-18 all-time against Central Connecticut after splitting a pair of matches in the fall of 2019. The Bulldogs took the first match, 3-2, and later fell 3-1 at the end of the season.
• As a team, the Blue Devils hold top marks both nationally and in the conference. Central Connecticut leads the NEC in aces per set (1.87) and ranks 20^th nationally. They are also 26^th nationally and are first in the NEC with an Opp. Hitting Percentage of .144. Their overall hitting percentage is also a top mark among conference foes (.229).
• Senior Emma Henderson is the team's biggest offensive producer as she ranks third in the NEC with 4.30 points per set and fourth in attacks per set (10.43). Henderson also is among the top 10 players in the country averaging 0.61 aces per set after posting six against Merrimack. The senior averages 3.60 kills per set and posts a hitting percentage of .210.
• Central's opposite hitter Isabelle Roufs is the conference leader in hitting percentage with .380 (39-14-77). She is also fourth in the conference with 1.00 blocks per set after blocking a season-best of nine against LIU.
• Senior Libero Ashlyn Eisnega most recently posted a season-high 27 digs against LIU last week and ranks second in the NEC with 5.18 digs per set. The mark ranks her 32^nd nationally.

BULLDOGS NOTES AND NOTABLES

• Bryant went 2-0 against Fairleigh Dickinson last week in a thrilling fashion. The Bulldogs erased a two-set deficit and forced a fifth set to take down the Knights, 3-2, in the first match of the day. In the second match, Bryant broke its all-time single-match block record with 28 led by Alysa Wright and Caroline Kennedy who each blocked eight. The record was set in 2002 at Saint Rose with 23.5 blocks.
• Wright not only leads the NEC but is ranked 17^th in the country with 1.41 blocks per set. Her blocking efforts help the Bulldogs pace the NEC with 2.46 blocks per set.
• Junior Caroline Kennedy returned to action last week and posted double-digit kills in each of the two matches to combine for 24.
• Sophomore setter Mia Cergol is second in the NEC with 9.42 assists per set after posting a career-best of 47 assists at FDU. Cergol first set a career-high of 46 in the first match against the Knights before topping the mark in the second match of the day. The New York native also achieved three-straight double-doubles including a career game of 47 assists and 20 digs in Hackensack.
• The consistent defensive efforts from senior captain Erika Ward rank her third in the conference with 4.89 digs per set. She set a season-best of 28 at FDU on Wednesday.
• Freshman Fabiana Castro had a career match at FDU with a career-high 14 kills and 15 digs for her first double-double as a Bulldog. Castro also aided in Bryant's record-breaking block performance in the second match with three.
• Currently, in the NEC standings, the Bulldogs sit in second place with a 4-2 record behind the undefeated Sacred Heart (6-0). LIU trails closely behind Bryant with a 5-3 conference mark.