Bridgeport Volleyball Begins 2014 With Sweep Of Kentucky State

West Palm Beach, Fla.-The University of Bridgeport women's volleyball team opened its 2014 season on Friday morning with a 3-0 sweep (25-13, 25-13, 25-20) of the Kentucky State University Thorobrettes, an NCAA Division II Tournament team in 2013, in the opening match of the Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic hosted by Palm Beach Atlantic University.  The win gives new UB head coach Gary Mullin a victory in his debut on the Purple Knights' bench.

Senior Ying Shen (Nanjing, China) led a balanced Bridgeport offensive attack with nine kills.  As a team, the Purple Knights hit .301 in their 2014 season opener (34k-9e-83 ta).  Shen also chipped in a match-best 11 digs and one solo block.

Senior Biljana Savic (Novi Sad, Serbia), the 2014 East Coast Conference Preseason Player of the Year, had a solid all-around match with a team-leading 17 assists, eight kills, eight digs and a match-high six service aces.

Larissa Oliveira (Sr., Belo Horizonte, Brazil) was strong at the net with eight kills (.429 attack percentage) and team and match-leading four blocks.

Junior Sarah Rosa (Itajuba, Brazil) added seven kills for the winners plus three blocks.

Newcomer Giovana Soares (Grad. Student, Sao Paulo, Brazil) made her first appearance in a Bridgeport uniform a good one with 11 assists, seven digs and two service aces.  As a team, UB had 13 service aces to only four for Kentucky State.

The libero tandem of Michele Santos (Sr., Campinas, Brazil) and Salina DeCicco (So., Kingston, N.Y.) were strong in the 2014 season opener, as they each notched six digs.

Up next for the Purple Knights on Friday is a 5:15 p.m. match against Barry University.  On Saturday, the Purple Knights will close out play in the 2014 Hyatt Place Sunshine Classic with matches against Eckerd and Palm Beach Atlantic.