Bryant Volleyball Season in Review

SMITHFIELD, R.I.- The Bryant women's volleyball team enjoyed another successful campaign in the fall of 2021, culminating in the first Northeast Conference tournament hosted by the Bulldogs. 

The team won their first outright NEC regular season championship with a 12-2 record, their best conference record since joining Division I. The Bulldogs also won 20 games overall for the third time in the last four full seasons. Their win total was spurred by a nine match win streak that stretched from early October to mid November, and was part of a 13-1 stretch during the heart of conference play. The Chace Center was also very kind to the Bulldogs, who went 10-3 (8-0 in conference) on their home floor. Bryant won eight matches in non-conference action, including their first two wins over in-state rival and Atlantic-10 member Rhode Island.

The Bulldogs were led by three All-NEC performers. Riley James was named to the first team for the first time in her career, while Caroline Kennedy and Mia Cergol both earned second team selections. 

James led the team and was ninth in the conference in kills (319, 2.70 per set). She also hit the NCAA leaderboards with her seven ace performance against Holy Cross on 8/28, which put her third in the nation in aces for a three set match.

Kennedy reached the Bulldogs' biggest individual milestone during her senior season, eclipsing 1000 career kills on 10/16 vs. Saint Francis. She was second on the team with 303 total kills and 2.63 per set, and set a career high with 22 kills on 11/6 vs. LIU.

Cergol was one of the top setters in the NEC, finishing third in assists (1031, 8.74/set). She was also fifth in the conference with 35 aces. Her setting also put her into the Bryant record books. Her season total of 1031 assists is now the third most in Bryant's D-1 era, while her 59 assists vs. LIU on 11/6 was the second most for a single match.

Bryant received contributions from their entire roster en route to a 21-11 overall record.

Alysa Wright was a two-time NEC weekly award winner, earning both overall and defensive player of the week honors. She finished the season third in the NEC in blocks (119, 1.02/set) and hitting percentage (.278). Her block rate is the third highest in a single season in Bryant's D-I era.

Haley O'Brien etched her name in the Bryant record books during her senior season. She is now in the top five in Bulldog history in career blocks (282) and blocks per set (0.82), and is second in career solo blocks (43). She finished the season second on the team and sixth in the NEC with 100 total blocks and 0.88 per set.

Emma McGovern was the Bulldogs' third leading hitter, finishing with 283 kills and 2.41 per set. She set career highs in kills, blocks, assists, and total points, and tied a single match career high with 18 kills vs. Sacred Heart in the conference opener 9/24.

Abby Rae was the primary libero for the Bulldogs, and she finished fifth in the NEC in digs (465, 4.08 per set). She was also top ten in the conference with 32 aces, and set a career high of 33 digs in the conference title game.

Fabi Castro had 51 kills and 106 digs in her first full season at Bryant. She had at least ten digs three times and had a season high nine kills vs. Brown on 9/3.

Gianna Grigaliunas saw the most court time of any freshman this season, playing in 24 matches and 70 sets. She had nine aces, eight assists, and 38 digs, recording her first career ace in her collegiate debut vs. Holy Cross on 9/4.

Fellow freshman Aubrey Lapour finished her rookie season with 64 kills (1.54 per set), the most among Bryant's first year players. She had a season high 14 kills and .423 hitting pecentage in her first career start vs. URI on 10/5.

Carolina Camacho opened her collegiate career by winning NEC rookie of the week on 8/31, highlighted by 21 assists, four digs, and an ace in the season opener vs. Holy Cross. She had a season high 25 assists on 9/4 vs. Boston College.

Jenna Knight finished her senior season with career totals of 213 kills, 92 assists, and 62 blocks. She more than doubled her career ace total in one match, serving three vs. LIU on senior night 11/6.

Josie Deluga finished her first full season with 80 total digs (1.33 per set). She appeared twice at libero during the year, including a start on 9/3 vs. Brown. She had 20 digs and four assists in that game, and also had 12 digs during three sets as libero vs. Central Connecticut on 11/13.

Miranda Jantzen finished her rookie season with eight kills, five blocks, and 18 digs. She had her first career kill and block as part of a four kill performances vs. Villanova on 9/11.

Maggie Ryan had 11 kills and five blocks on the season, with highs of five kills and two blocks vs. URI on 8/28.

Morgan Smith had four kills and six blocks during her first season at Bryant, including a kill and solo block in her collegiate debut on 9/4 vs. Holy Cross. She also had a pair of blocks vs. LIU on 10/2.

Claudia Borri had a season high three aces vs. Merrimack on 10/8, and also contributed one of Bryant's season high 14 aces vs. Holy Cross on 9/4.