Volleyball Records Season-High Ten Blocks in Loss at Bryant

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coppin State's volleyball team recorded a season-high ten blocks but it was not enough as it fell in three sets at Bryant University (25-22, 25-16, 25-23) on Saturday afternoon at the Bulldogs' Hampton Inn-vitational.
 
The Basics

• Final Score: Coppin State 0, Bryant 3
• Records: Coppin State 2-9 (0-0 MEAC), Bryant 6-4 (0-0 NEC)
• Location: Smithfield, R.I. – Chace Athletic Center
• Series History: Bryant leads 2-1

 
How It Happened
First Set

• Both teams held narrow leads, no larger than two, with Coppin leading most of the way as Asia Stennis recorded three kills to pace CSU.
• With the score tied at 19, the Eagles recorded the next two points on a block and kill by Lauryn Harrell, forcing a Bulldogs timeout.
• The quick break worked well for Bryant as Julia Flynn recorded back-to-back kills to tie the score and force a CSU timeout.
• The teams then traded points but the Bulldogs scored the next three to take the frame, 25-22.

 
Second Set

• Bryant led from almost start to finish as it went on a 6-0 run after a kill by Stennis tied the score at two.
• Coppin got back into it with five-straight points thanks to a kil and a couple blocks by Christa Johnson, cutting the deficit to 8-7.
• Bryant called a timeout after CSU's run and quickly extended the lead to five points until kills by Stennis, Marlena Guice and Johnson made it an 18-16 score in favor of the hosts.
• The Bulldogs then scored four-straight to force a timeout which did not stop the momentum as BU scored the next three to win the set, 25-16.

 
Third Set

• Coppin battled the entire way, holding a lead as many as 11-8 following kills by Harrell and Stennis. 
• Bryant battled back to take a 13-12 lead but CSU did not go away as Coleman recorded a kill to tie it up before a block by Jordan Celestine and Lang gave the Eagles back the lead at 14-13.
• The teams traded points but a three-point run by Bryant gave it a 20-16 advantage and forced a timeout.
• Three-straight Eagles points then forced a Bulldogs timeout and kills by Stennis and Coleman notched the score at 21 points apiece.
• Bryant scored three of the next four to get a match point but blocks by Celestine and Harrell kept CSU in the match before a BU kill sealed the 25-23 win.

 
Inside the Numbers

• Asia Stennis led Coppin with 11 kills while hitting .276 to go with four blocks for 13 points.
• Miajavon Coleman also had an impressive match with nine kills and seven digs while hitting .231
• Chelsie Kolibar had a season-high 14 digs which is the most by an Eagles players this season.
• Christa Johnson and Jordan Celestine led the defense with five blocks apiece while Harrell also finished with four.
• Brianna Lang tallied 26 assists to go with a couple kills and blocks.

 
Who's Next?

• Coppin State concludes the Hampton Inn-vitational against Middle Tennessee (2-6, 0-0 C-USA) at 3 pm.