Volleyball

Bryant defeats Merrimack 3-1 to Claim NE-10 Volleyball Championship

WALTHAM, Mass. – Senior Likica Grceva (Natick) had 25 kills, eight digs and three blocks as top-seeded Bryant University captured its fourth Northeast-10 Conference women’s volleyball playoff championship in five years with a 3-1 victory over third-seeded Merrimack College Saturday night at Bentley’s Dana Center.

Bryant, which receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Northeast Regional, improved to 30-12 with the 30-16, 32-30, 20-30, 30-28 victory. Merrimack, likely to be considered for an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament after being ranked tenth in the latest regional poll, dropped to 19-13.

It appeared that the match was headed for a decisive fifth game before the Bulldogs came alive late in game four. Bryant had taken the first two, but Merrimack answered with a strong showing in game three and had a 10-point lead in game four, 21-11.

The Bulldogs used seven straight points to turn a 24-21 hole into a 28-24 lead. Merrimack tallied the next four points to even the game at 28-all, but a kill by freshman Caitlyn Kogge (Enfield, Conn.) and a Warrior attack error finished the match.

Julie Geonnotti (St. Louis Park, Minn.) added 11 kills for Bryant and Tiffany Garry recorded 48 assists and 15 digs. The Bulldogs had 15 blocks in the match, including eight by Adrienne Boss (Dracut), and also served seven aces, including three by Morgan Wood (Cedar Park, Texas).

Merrimack, which had upset second-seeded Bentley in the semis earlier Saturday, was led by NE-10 Freshman of the Year Molly Cindric (Westlake Village, Calif.), who had 15 kills and 14 digs. Elyse Lorenz (Frankfort, Ill.) added 47 assists and Alyssa Pickett (Tinley Park, Ill.) had 19 digs.

In addition to Garry, the All-Tournament Team included Garry, Ale Kuncaitis (Merrimack), Christina Sadowski (Bentley), Nicole Buchholz (Franklin Pierce), Jodi Smith (Le Moyne), Jillian Hadder (UMass-Lowell), Ashley D’Agostini (Pace) and Mary German (Saint Rose).