Boston College Athletics
Volleyball Defeats Navy, Falls to Bryant
September 12, 2010 | Volleyball
Sept. 11, 2010
The Boston College volleyball team split its final two games of the Bryant Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 11 in Smithfield, R.I. The Eagles (5-5) defeated Navy in five-sets, 3-2, before falling to host Bryant University, 3-2. BC was led by junior outside hitters Tsvetelina Dureva and Brennan Clark, with 3.50 kills per set and 4.60 digs per set respectively, each recorded their second and third double-doubles of the weekend.
"We are in really good shape. Offensively, that was the best weekend we have had in a long time. We hit .245 for the tournament.
"We have a clear objective for us to work on during the course of the week. Certainly our team understand what we need to work on and will need to do to get ready for ACC play."
BC began the day with a win over Navy (3-7) in five-sets. Sophomore setter Krissy Mussenden racked up 42 assists distributing to an offense that recorded its highest attack percentage of the season (.256). Dureva tallied a career-high 22 kills on a .321 attack percentage and 13 digs, while Clark posted 21 digs and 12 kills.
"Offensively we looked good versus Navy," Campbell said. "We gave them some opportunities we should not have, allowing them to control the match, but the team showed a lot of heart to come back from 2-1. We played really well in game four and carried the momentum into the fifth."
After the Eagles won game one, 25-17, the Mids took control of the match with wins in the second and third sets, 25-15 and 25-20.
BC ran away with the fourth set, 25-13, and clinched the match in the fifth, 15-12, on a kill from sophomore middle hitter Krystle Higgins, who hit .333 and made 12 blocks on the day.
"Krystle has figured things out offensively," Campbell said. "We are starting to see flashes of what her capabilities are. Her timing has improved dramatically since the spring and she is becoming an effective middle. She is a great athlete. We have to find ways to get her the ball more often."
In the tournament finale, the Eagles fell in five-sets to Bryant University (8-3). BC won the first set, 25-16, and took the third, 25-20. However, the Bulldogs evened the match with wins in the second, 25-22, and fourth games, 25-20, before taking the win in the fifth set, 15-5.
"Against Bryant, our blocking was phenomenal," Campbell stated. "They just made plays at critical times and stole the momentum from us."
Defensively, BC recorded 31 blocks, the most since the 44 posted in a win against N.C. State on Sept. 27, 2007. Higgins and sophomore outside hitter Val Mattaliano recorded career-bests with nine blocks each, while freshman Melissa McTighe added five of her own.
Boston College returns to action Fri., Sept. 17 at the Brown Tournament in Providence, R.I. The Eagles will meet Central Connecticut at 4 p.m. (9/17), before squaring off against Holy Cross at 12 p.m. and Brown at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18.
