Bulldogs Defeat Brown in Dramatic Five Sets

SMITHFIELD, R.I.- A kill by Aubrey Lapour sealed a dramatic five-set win for the Bryant women's volleyball team, who defeated Brown for the first time in five years. The Bulldogs finished their five-game homestand 4-1, and go into this weekend's St. John's Kaiser Classic winners of five of their last six.

Lapour and Caroline Kennedy led Bryant with eleven kills each, while Mia Cergol and Carolina Camacho combined for 47 assists and 18 digs. Cergol's 23 assists put her over the 2000 mark for her career.

Coach Garlacy's Comments: "Tonight's win was a total team effort with many people coming off the bench to contribute. Our middles were very effective, and we had four players with double-digit digs. The setters did a great job running a balanced offense, and Mia Cergol earned her 2000th career assist. It's always a battle with Brown; this is the first time we've beaten them since 2017."

Bryant 3, Brown 2 (25-19, 26-24, 14-25, 24-26, 16-14)

Records: BRY (5-3), BRO (2-2)

How it Happened

Set 1: The Bulldogs were off and running in the first set, scoring nine of the first ten points and forcing Brown to burn both of their timeouts. The Bears were able to get the deficit back to five, but Bryant kept them at arms' length to take the set by six. Four different Bulldogs recorded multiple kills to lead the offense, while the defense held Brown to a .125 attack percentage.

Set 2: Bryant once again took control early in the set, starting the second on an 8-1 run. Brown gradually worked their way back, eventually tying the score at 23. The two teams traded points to tie at 24 before a Haley O'Brien kill and Brown attack error gave the Bulldogs the Set 2 win. Another balanced offensive attack saw six Bryant players contribute multiple kills, including four from Fabi Castro and three from Alysa Wright.

Set 3: Brown responded in the third set, opening up a 6-1 lead that forced Bryant into an early timeout. The Bulldogs were able to get within three, but another Bears run put the set out of reach, and they went on to force a fourth. Wright's three kills led Bryant in the set.

Set 4: Another bid run by the Bears opened Set 4, as they scored four straight and seven of eight to start the set. Bryant responded with their own 7-1 run, tying the score at eight and setting off a back-and-forth battle. The two teams traded blows to the tune of seven ties and four lead changes in the set, before a Brown kill and Bulldog error gave the Bears the set and forced the deciding fifth. Caroline Kennedy was clutch down the stretch, recording five kills in the set for the Bulldogs.

Set 5: Brown opened up the final set on a 4-1 run, but a steady comeback by Bryant tied the score at eight. The Bears scored three straight before kills by Castro, Wright, and Aubrey Lapour helped vault Bryant into the lead. The score was knotted up again at 14, but an attack error by Brown gave the Bulldogs match point. Both teams went back and forth on an intense final rally until a dig by Abby Rae and set by Carolina Camacho led to the match-clinching kill by Lapour.

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• Aubrey Lapour, Caroline Kennedy, Alysa Wright, and Fabi Castro all reached double-digit kills for Bryant, with Lapour and Kennedy leading with eleven apiece. The Bulldogs' 57 kills were their second most on the season, one shy of their 58 at Hofstra two weeks ago.

• Mia Cergol reached 2000 career assists in the first set, becoming the fourth player in Division I program history to reach that mark. The team's 54 assists tied their season-high, also set against Hofstra.

• Three different Bulldogs recorded at least ten digs, with Abby Rae's 16 leading the way. Cergol's 12 digs helped her notch her fourth double-double on the season.

• The Bulldogs' win over Brown was their first against the defending Ivy League champs and in-state rival since 2017, and improved their home record to 17-5 over the last three seasons.

What's next: Bryant will head to the Big Apple this weekend to take part in the St. John's Kaiser Classic. They will be taking on Stonehill, Southeastern Louisiana, and the host Red Storm.