November 17, 2007

BRYANT VOLLEYBALL FALLS TO DOWLING 3-1
NCAA Northeast Regional Final

@ Oakdale, NY
Dowling 3, Bryant 1
Game scores:  30-22, 22-30, 30-19, 31-29
Records:  Bryant 32-13, Dowling 39-7

OAKDALE, NY - Senior Likica Grceva (Natick, Mass.) pounded out 16 kills and added eight digs but it was not enough to overcome top-seeded Dowling College to a 3-1 win over Bryant University in the final of the NCAA Northeast Women's Volleyball regional here Saturday night.  The loss ends Bryant's season at 32-13 while Dowling (39-7) advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight at the end of the month.

The Bulldogs played well throughout the evening, taking a quick 7-2 lead at the start of game one but Dowling was able to withstand the initial wave of Bryant points and settled down.  Using a balanced attack and strong serving, the Golden Lions pulled to within 15-14 and took a 17-16 lead moments later from Justyna Michon and would pull away for a 30-22 win.

But the Bulldogs would answer, turning the tide with strong serving of their own in the second to take a 13-5 lead early.  After Dowling pulled to within 19-16, Caitlyn Kogge came off the bench to add a kill to quell the Golden Lions rally and the Bulldogs never looked back, winning 30-22.

But two much strong serving and the play of Michon and Marina Markovic proved too much as Dowling won the third 30-19 and closed it out with a 31-29 win in the fourth.

Dowling finished the match with 14 service aces including eight from Patrcja Klekotka.  The Bulldogs, who hit .135 in the match, had eight aces with Delia Glover chalking up three to go with her 17 digs.  Freshman Adrienne Boss had eight kills and four blocks while Tiffany Garry, playing in her final match, closed out her career with 36 assists and three blocks.