Bryant sweeps season series with NJIT in five set victory

NEWARK, N.J.– The Bryant women's volleyball team defeated NJIT Sunday afternoon to close out the weekend 2-0. Today's win ties the Bulldogs conference record from last year with one more game remaining. 

GAME INFORMATION

Bryant, NJIT (20-25, 25-18, 25-27, 25-17, 22-20)

Records: Bryant (19-10, 6-3), NJIT (9-16, 1-8) 

Location: Joel & Diane Bloom Wellness and Events Center (WEC)

COACH GARLACY'S COMMENTS

"What a battle today we went back and forth in every set. Another five set match win for this young team shows how confident we are becoming.  We are peaking at the right time and trusting each other to get it done no matter what the score is."

HOW IT HAPPENED (at NJIT)

• Set 1- NJIT got on Bryant early with an 11-5 run to open the set. After falling behind 19-13, the Bulldogs would rally back and get the match to within three. The Highlanders however, would hold on and win the opening set by a score of 25-20. Arianna Ugolini had 4 kills in the set and matched Josie Deluga with 5 digs.

• Set 2- The Bulldogs settled in for the second set by getting out to an early six point advantage. Their offense would be fueled by Ugolini along with Aubrey Lapour and Morgan Smith who all had multiple kills in the set. Carolina Camacho racked up 8 assists and helped the Black and Gold win 25-18. Ugolini would finish the set with a remarkable 7 kills and also landed a service ace.

• Set 3- Both teams would keep things close in the third set; exchanging leads throughout. Bryant would begin to separate with a kill from Lapour and an ace by Deluga to go up 18-15 but the Highlanders would tie once again. The set would be extended and NJIT would come out on top 27-25. Brookelyn Talmadge and Nadine Abdat each had multiple blocks in the set. Carrina Barron and Morgan Smith also had multiple service aces.

• Set 4- In the fourth set NJIT would begin up 6-1 and looked like they could put Bryant away. With her team down, Arianna Ugolini would step up and serve for 10 straight points to take Bryant from being down 13-15 to leading 23-16.  During that run, Aubrey Lapour had 6 kills to help the Bulldogs stay alive and win 25-17 to go to a fifth set. Carolina Camacho had 11 assists. Seven different Bryant players had kills.

• Set 5- The 5th set would have 16 tie scores and 5 lead changes. After NJIT's, Juliana Impaglia got a kill, the set would be extended into what felt like another game itself. Both teams would go to match point but the match would remain a stalemate. With Bryant up by one, NJIT would hit the ball off what referees initially thought was the pin. Upon further review, the call would be overturned and the match would continue. A kill by Brookelyn Talmadge would put the Bulldogs up 20-19 before NJIT would tie it again. This time with the chance to take the lead, the Highlanders would string together consecutive attack errors to give the Bulldogs the victory. Aubrey Lapour had 5 kills in the 5th to end her total at 21 for the day.

STATS

• Arianna Ugolini and Aubrey Lapour combined for 47 Bulldog kills.

• Brookelyn Talmadge led the team with 8 blocks against the Highlanders.

• Carrina Barron and Morgan Smith each had multiple service aces for Bryant.

• Josie Deluga had a Bulldog best 19 digs.

• Madison Koeller records double-digit assists for the sixth straight game. This ties the longest streak of her Bryant career.

MATCH NOTES

• Today's contest had 33 tie scores and 12 lead changes

• Arianna Ugolini sets a career high in kills for the second match in arrow. Her new single game best is 26.

• Carolina Camacho posted a new career high in assists with 32. This is the first 30+ assist game of her career.

• Nadine Abdat recorded a new personal best for single game blocks with 6.

• Ana Fuertes hada career high 11 digs.

UP NEXT

Bryant will close out the regular season this Friday in Durham where they will take on the UNH Wildcats.