Volleyball Splits Pair of Matches at Hall of Fame Invitational

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University volleyball team split a pair of matches during the second and final day of the 2019 Hall of Fame Invitational held on Saturday at Smith College.

The Bears (8-12) dropped a 3-0 decision (25-15, 25-9, 25-19) to Bard College before posting a 3-0 victory (25-11, 25-16, 25-23) over Dean College. Bridgewater finished 1-2 at the invitational.

Junior middle hitter Sydney Rice (Medway, Mass.) posted 11 kills to go along with two solo blocks in the win over Dean. Freshman outside hitter MackenzieMarie Sullivan (Halifax, Mass.) added a career-best seven kills, while junior setter Casey Holmes (Norton, Mass.) tallied 21 assists, ten digs and an ace, and freshman libero Victoria Caiano (New Bedford, Mass.) contributed five aces and 12 digs. Junior outside hitter Abigail Gardner (Holden, Mass.) checked in with two kills, 11 digs and an ace.

Sophomore right side hitter Becca Whalen (Plymouth, Mass.) registered a team-high six kills in the loss to Bard, while Holmes notched 19 assists, one ace and nine digs. The Bears also received 12 digs and an ace from Caiano, three kills and 13 digs from Gardner, five kills and two solo blocks from senior middle blocker Shannon Grindle (Halifax, Mass.) and five kills, one solo block and eight digs from junior outside hitter Gabryella Serrano (Bridgewater, Mass.).

In upcoming action, the Bears host Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) foe Mass. Maritime Academy on Wednesday evening at six.