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Brooklyn, NY -- The Northeast Conference (NEC) women's volleyball trophy is going to Smithfield for the first time. 
 
Second-seeded Bryant defeated fourth-seeded Sacred Heart in three tightly contested sets, 25-22, 25-23, 25-21, to capture the title on Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn.

Redshirt senior Julia Flynn (Pembroke, MA/Notre Dame Academy) averaged 3.75 kills and 3.88 digs per set over two matches to earn NEC Tournament MVP honors.  She posted a game-high 13 kills and added eight digs on Saturday to lead her team to victory. 
 
Bryant freshman Caroline Kennedy (San Juan Capistrano, CA/JSerra Catholic), an NEC first teamer, recorded the game-winning kill, one of nine on the day.  She also had five blocks.
 
The opening set started out in SHU’s favor, as the Pioneers held a 16-9 lead before the Bulldogs answered with 10 out of the next 13 points to tie the score at 19. The teams then alternated points to make it 22-22 before Bryant rattled off three straight points to claim the set. Sophomore Erika Ward (Rochester, MI/Stoney Creek) showcased eight of her match-high 17 digs in the first set. 
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to a 6-2 led in the second set, but Sacred Heart was quick to respond with eight out of the next 12 points to make it 10-10. Play went back and forth before reaching a 22-22 deadlock. Ward would go on to serve up two consecutive winning points, including an ace that gave Bryant a 2-0 set lead at the break.
 
With the finish line in sight, Bryant did not trail for the entirety of the final set. Jumping out to a 15-10 lead, the Bulldogs held on despite the Pioneers fighting back to narrow the deficit within two at 17-15. Bryant won seven of the next eight points to go up 24-16.  SHU again fought back, staving off four match points to make it interesting, but Kennedy unleashed the kill that sent the Bryant faithful into a frenzy. 
 
For Sacred Heart, the Pioneers finish off the season at 18-11 overall and 10-6 in conference play. SHU was led by All Tournament members Sarah Ciszek (San Juan Capistrano, CA/Santa Margarita Catholic) and Liisel Nelis (Kuressaare, Estonia/Audentes Sports Gymnasium), who both spearheaded the Pioneers victory over top-seeded LIU Brooklyn in the semis. Nelis, a redshirt junior, finished the afternoon with 12 kills and eight digs while Ciszek - the NEC Setter and Rookie of the Year - delivered four kills, 30 assists and eight digs. 
 
Theresa Garlacy captured her sixth conference title in her 23 years as Bryant’s head coach, and first since the Bulldogs became a DI program. Senior Grace Richmeyer (DeSoto, MO/St. Pius X) joined Flynn and Ward on the All-Tournament Team after averaging 2.13 kills and 1.0 blocks per set. Ward dug up an average of 6.13 per set. 
 
The win also marked Bryant University’s first NEC title in a fall sport.

The Bulldogs will now await the NCAA selection show on Oct. 25 at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU. 

NEC All-Tournament Team
Julia Flynn, BRY (MVP)
Grace Richmeyer, BRY
Erika Ward, BRY
Sarah Ciszek, SHU
Liisel Nelis, SHU
Madelyn Kaprelyan, CCSU
Julia Azevedo, LIU