Kennedy's Double-Double Leads Bulldogs into AE Playoffs

NEWARK, N.J.- Caroline Kennedy's double-double led the Bryant women's volleyball team to a 3-0, playoff-clinching sweep over NJIT on Sunday. 

Kennedy finished with 11 kills and 11 digs as the Bulldogs clinched an America East tournament berth in their first season in the league. Alysa Wright added double-digit points and Riley James had nine kills and 13 digs in a well-balanced attack for Bryant over the Highlanders.

Coach Garlacy's Comments: "It was a great total team effort today to earn our way into the America East conference tournament. Carol led us both offensively and defensively with 11 kills and 11 digs. We were very balanced on the attack and disciplined on defense. This team still has a lot that they want to accomplish."

Bryant 3, NJIT 0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-23)

Records: BRY (18-10, 5-3 AE), NJIT (8-20, 1-8 AE)

How it Happened

Set 1: Both teams went back and forth into kick off the first set, swapping the lead a total of four times before a Haley O'Brien kill broke a 6-6 tie and gave Bryant the lead for good. NJIT was able to keep things close, but an 8-1 run by the Bulldogs spurred them on to a 25-17 set win. O'Brien, James, and Kennedy had three kills apiece for Bryant in the set.

Set 2: The second set played out similarly to the first, with the Bulldogs and Highlanders battling for control. A 5-1 Bulldog run eventually put them out to a 15-10 lead, one that NJIT could not recover. Bryant closed the set by scoring the final five points for another 25-17 win. Mia Cergol and Abby Rae assisted on all 12 of Bryant's kills in the second.

Set 3: An emphatic start for the Bulldogs got them out to the early Set 3 lead, as two kills from Kennedy and another from Wright gave Bryant the 3-0 advantage. NJIT kept pace, however, tying the score and taking a 14-13 lead. The Bulldogs responded with a 5-0 run to go up 18-14, and held off late pressure from the Highlanders to take the set and the match.

Bulldog Notes and Notables

• Haley O'Brien recorded four total blocks, raising her career total to 365. Her second kill moved her past Ally Lunsford for second on Bryant's Div. I career blocks leaderboard.

• Caroline Kennedy led all players with 11 kills, her seventh double-digit kill match of the season. She also had 11 digs and a pair of blocks for a double-double.

• Mia Cergol posted 37 assists, her third most in a three-set match this year.

• Bryant advances to the postseason in their first season in America East. They have reached the playoffs for the second straight year and sixth overall since joining Division I.

What's next: The Bulldogs will fight for a potential America East regular season title when they host UMBC and Binghamton next weekend at the Chace Center.