2021 Women's Volleyball Season Preview
The Bryant University women's volleyball team opens their season this weekend at the Rhode Island Tournament on URI's campus in Kingston. Their first opponent will be Holy Cross on Friday at 4 p.m., and for the first time in nearly two years, fans will be permitted to attend the match.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2020-21 campaign that saw them go 6-5 overall. They had a 6-4 record in Northeast Conference play, good for third place in the standings.
Cooch Garlacy and her squad have high expectations for the upcoming season. "Our expectation for this season is that we play hard every play, every point… and that we're going to go on and win the conference tournament and represent the NEC in the NCAA Tournament."
Blockers
Bryant led the NEC with 99 total blocks and were 28th nationally with 2.54 blocks per set last year, and the contingent of Haley O'Brien, Alysa Wright, Abby Snethen and Co. are back to wreak havoc at the net once again. The senior O'Brien is in the top ten in Bryant's Division I history in total blocks and block assists, and top five in solo blocks. She finished last season leading Bryant in solo blocks, and was fourth on the team and sixth in the NEC in total blocks despite missing three matches. Wright, a junior, is coming off her first All-NEC selection, as she was picked to the second team. She led the NEC with 52 total blocks, and was also second on Bryant in total points (128) and kills (91).
Snethen is coming off a freshman season that saw her finish third on the team with 25 total blocks and 23 block assists. Her 1.14 blocks per set in conference play were also good for third best in the NEC. Joining this trio are returning junior Maggie Ryan and incoming freshman Morgan Smith.
Outside Hitters
Bryant's offensive attack is led by a pair of All-NEC outside hitters in senior Caroline Kennedy and junior Emma McGovern. Kennedy, who also plays at the opposite hitter spot, is a two-time All-NEC Second Team selection. She was third on the team in kills and fifth in blocks despite playing in just seven of the team's eleven matches. She also ranks in the top five in Bryant's Division I history in total kills and attack percentage. McGovern was named first team all-conference last season, finishing fourth in the NEC and leading the Bulldogs with 123 kills and 139.5 total points. Junior outside hitter Riley James, who was third on the team with 2.35 kills per set, also returns.
Opposite Hitters
Kennedy will be joined by fellow senior Jenna Knight, sophomores Fabi Castro and Claudia Borri and freshmen Miranda Jantzen and Aubrey Lapour as opposite hitters. Castro, who also plays at outside hitter, finished fourth on the squad with 77 kills and third with 112 digs. Borri registered six service aces in a three-set win over Merrimack last season. They will be joined by freshmen hitters Miranda Jantzen and Aubrey Lapour.
Setters
Knight and junior Mia Cergol lead the way for Bryant's setters. Cergol set a Bryant Division I record with 9.95 assists per set, and led the NEC with 388 total assists. She was also third in the conference and tops on the Bulldogs with 14 service aces. Knight appeared in just five matches last season but made the most of her time on the court, finishing second on the team with 48 assists, including a 36-assist, seven-kill, seven-dig performance against Providence. Freshman Carolina Camacho will join this duo setting the ball for the Bulldogs this season.
Defense
Junior libero and defensive specialist Abby Rae is back to lead the defense after the departure of senior Erika Ward. Rae was a steadying presence during the otherwise hectic 2021 spring season. She was one of three Bulldogs, along with Ward and Fabiana Castro, to appear in all 43 sets throughout the season. In that time, she was fourth on the team in digs (89) and digs per set (2.07). Sophomore Josie Deluga also appeared in all eleven matches last season, tallying 1.20 digs per set. Freshman libero Gianna Grigaliunas will join this duo, with fellow freshman Miranda Jantzen also expected to share some defensive duties.