SMITHFIELD, RI – An epic first set went against the Sacred Heart University women's volleyball team and the Pioneers couldn't rebound Friday night at Bryant University. SHU dropped its Northeast Conference opener 3-0 (36-34, 25-20, 25-23) to the Bulldogs.

Records:
Sacred Heart: 6-6, 0-1 NEC
Bryant: 8-8, 1-0 NEC

Top Performers:
Mackenzie Eford (SHU): 11 kills
Sarah Ciszek: 10 kills, 26 assists, 8 digs
Emma Smallcomb (SHU): 16 digs

Up Next:
The Pioneers continue to their road trip at Merrimack on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Of Note:
Sacred Heart staved off three set points in set one before pulling ahead 26-25 on a Bryant error. Each team had chances to win the opening stanza but couldn't get the deciding point. SHU tied the set, 34-34, on an Olivia Fairchild kill, but the Bulldogs got a kill and Pioneer miscue to win the opening frame.
 
SHU allowed the Bulldogs to hit .308 in the second set. A Jasmine Roger' kill put the Pioneers up 23-22 in the third set, but Bryant got two kills and a block to close out the match.
 
Pacing the Pioneers with a season-high 11 kills was middle blocker Mackenzie Eford. Setter Sarah Ciszek just missed a triple double with 10 kills, 26 assists and eight digs. Libero Emma Smallcomb produced a match-high 16 digs.