Volleyball Opens NEC Play Sunday At Bryant

Quinnipiac University Bobcats (2-11, 0-0 NEC) at
Bryant University Bulldogs (12-5, 0-0 NEC)
Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010 - 1 p.m.
Chace Athletic Center - Smithfield, R.I.

Bobcats Open NEC Play At Bryant Sunday
The Quinnipiac University volleyball team opens Northeast Conference play Sunday at Bryant. The Bobcats enter Sunday's match having lost their last two matches, a 3-2 decision against La Salle, Sept. 18, and a 3-1 loss to Providence on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs have won their last four matches against Hofstra, Air Force, Buffalo and Hartford, before a Saturday match against Central Connecticut.

Follow the Bobcats
Live stats for Sunday's match at Bryant will be available. To access the live stats, please click on the appropriate link on the volleyball schedule at www.quinnipiacbobcats.com.

Scouting the Bryant Bulldogs
Bryant (12-5) is led by Maria Scocca, whose 3.00 kills, 0.38 service aces and 1.07 blocks per set and .246 hitting percentage all lead the Bulldogs. Jazmin Stoner is right behind Scocca with 2.82 kills per set and a .149 hitting percentage. Jadith Lorenzo is the team's setter, having dished out 549 assists on the year. Robyn Gardner is the defensive leader with 216 digs.

Five-Set Sandwich
The Bobcats sandwiched a pair of 3-2 defeats to Delaware State and La Salle around a 3-0 sweep of host Lafayette at the Lafayette Invitational, Sept. 17-18. In the Lafayette match, the Bobcats got progressively more dominant, winning the three sets, 25-21, 25-16 and 25-10, respectively.

2K-ayla Assists
With 44 assists in the Bobcats 3-2 defeat to Delaware State on Sept. 17, junior Kayla Lawler (Louisville, Ky.) eclipsed the 2,000-assist mark.

Earning Their Spots After Hart-Break
After sweeping the University of Hartford for their first win in 12 tries against the Hawks at the Division I level, Sept. 11, in Hamden, the Bobcats swept Lafayette for their first victory over the Leopards in four tries, Sept. 18.

Record Breaker
Just two weeks after setting a new personal four-set single-match record with 46 assists against Fordham, Aug. 28, Kayla Lawler compiled a new personal three-set single-match record with 43 assists against Hartford, Sept. 11. Her previous record four-set record was 41, set twice in her freshman year of 2008. Meanwhile, Lawler's prior three-set record was 40, set last Sept. 20 against St. Francis (N.Y.). Her five-set record is 53, set last Oct. 9 at St. Francis (N.Y.).

Good To Biediger Back
Sophomore Stephanie Biediger (Houston, Texas) made her return to the court after missing more than a year due to injury on Sept. 10. In her first tournament back, the outside hitter led the Bobcats with 25 kills in three matches and added 34 digs, earning Quinnipiac Invitational All-Tournament Team honors. Joining Biediger on the all-tournament team was Lawler, who piled up 110 assists in three matches.

Grattan Grabbing Attention
In three matches during the Quinnipiac Invitational, freshman Olivia Grattan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) had team highs in both kills (25) and blocks (10).

Riker's Versatility Rewarded
Logan Riker (Bowling Green, Ohio) was named to the Yale Invitational All-Tournament Team after compiling 12 kills and 28 digs, Sept. 3-4. Riker took her customary position at libero to rack up 23 digs in the first two matches of the weekend, before moving outside to compile 10 kills against Stony Brook.

Starting Strong
A pair of newcomers to the Bobcats made impressive debuts at the Beanpot Classic. Graduate student transfer Amanda Armstrong (Waukesha, Wis.) was named to the All-Tournament Team after totaling 30 kills on the weekend, including 15 against Fordham. Freshman Tracey Wright (Fair Lawn, N.J.) had 44 digs on the weekend, including 17 to conclude the weekend against Boston College.

Sophomore Surge
Taylor Payne (Warwick, N.Y.) began her sophomore season with a team-high 31 kills at the Beanpot Classic. At 3.10 kills per set at the first tournament of the year, Payne showed marked improvement from her 0.90 kills per set average as a freshman.

Returning Cast
Quinnipiac returns much of last season's core of student-athletes, as well as its 2008 Team MVP. Junior setter Kayla Lawler, who almost solely ran the Bobcats' attack, returns as team captain after dishing out 785 assists in 2009. The team's leading hitter, Kelby Carey (Surfside, Calif.), also returns for her junior season, a year after piling up 317 kills. Sophomore libero Logan Riker is also back for the Bobcats after compiling 406 digs as a freshman. Meanwhile, redshirt sophomore outside hitter Stephanie Biediger returns to the Bobcats after missing the 2009 season due to injury. Biediger was named Team MVP as a freshman after recording 233 kills, 244 digs, 31 blocks and 66 assists.

On Deck
The Bobcats continue Northeast Conference action Wednesday at Sacred Heart. The match is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Pitt Center in Fairfield, Conn.