Bryant University Women's Volleyball

Bio Toni Gravel returns to Bryant University in the Fall of 2022 for her 13th year as Head Coach for Bryant University Cheerleading and Dance teams. Toni also oversees the Bryant University Spirit Program, in conjunction with, Bryant Athletics game day operations team.  Prior to her tenure at Bryant, Coach Gravel has vast knowledge and experience in both areas. Growing up in Rhode Island she cheered and danced her entire childhood. While at Ponaganset High School, Gravel was a NCA All-American in both her junior and senior years. Gravel was Head Coach for Cheerleading at Lincoln High School (Rhode Island) from 2007-2012, she also coached at Baystate All-Stars from 2009-2013. She was a Dance minor at Keene State College before transferring to RIC, where she took professional level classes with Elaine Colaneri. She has choreographed routines at all different levels of both areas of the sport.  Gravel graduated from Rhode Island College in 2007 majoring in Elementary and Special Education. She later earned her Master's degree in English as a Second Language in 2015, also at RIC. She works full-time in the Pawtucket School Department as the Assistant Director of Special Education. She currently resides in Cumberland, RI with her husband Bryan (Bryant '07) and their daughter Marilyn.  Coaching Accolades:  Spring 2013- Top 10 NCA Nationals "All-Girl" Division 1 (Daytona, FL) Spring 2014- Top 10 NCA Nationals "All-Girl" Division 1 (Daytona, FL) Spring 2014- Top 10 NDA Nationals "Open" Division 1 (Daytona, FL) Winter 2015- NECA College Cup "All-Girl" Division 1 Champion Spring 2015- Top 10 NCA Nationals "All-Girl" Division 1 (Daytona, FL) Spring 2015- Top 10 NDA Nationals "Open" Division 1 (Daytona, FL) Winter 2016- UDA New England Dance Championships "Open D1" Champion Spring 2016- Top 10 NDA Nationals "Open" Division 1 (Daytona, FL) Spring 2018- Top 5 NCA/NDA Nationals "Game-Day" Division 1 (Daytona, FL Spring 2019- NCA "Game-Day" Division 1 National Champions. (Daytona, FL) Spring 2021- NCA "Game-Day" Division 1 3rd Place (Daytona, FL) Spring 2022- NCA "Game-Day" Division 1- 2nd Place (Daytona, FL)

Garlacy enters her 20th season at the helm of the Bryant program in 2015 and is looking to raise the bar for one of the most succesful programs in the Northeast. Behind a wealth of new and young talent, the Bulldogs enjoyed their best season at the Division I level in 2014, a year that included a pair of all-conference second team selections and the program's highest finish since joining the NEC. Just a tiebreaker stood between the Black and Gold and the NEC Tournament, having tied for fourth in the regular-season standings. Led by the likes of junior transfer and All-NEC Second Teamer Debora Magalhaes, senior captain Elena Lohr and NEC Rookie of the Year Natascha Scarff, the Bulldogs finished 7-7 in league play with a 12-22 overall record. In 2013, the Bulldogs absorbed some of the early bumps and bruises from the non-conference portion of their schedule before jumping out to a 3-2 Northeast Conference mark halfway through the month of October. Despite the early success, the Black and Gold struggled down the stretch, finishing up the year with an 8-25 overall record, 3-11 in the NEC. Garlacy's 2012 team endured an up-and-down campaign that ended on a high note. The Bulldogs finished 12-21 overall but posted a 6-10 record in the NEC, finishing just shy of their first-ever playoff berth. The Black and Gold wrapped up the 2012 season by winning three of their final five conference matches. Bryant was led by senior Jadith Lorenzo, who finished the year with 736 assists and 212 digs. Freshman Claire Van Dyk enjoyed a strong rookie season, finishing with a team-high 310 kills and 208 digs. The Bulldogs completed their 2011 campaign with a 15-18 overall record, going 8-8 in Northeast Conference play. With big wins against non-conference opponents such as Holy Cross, New Hampshire and Fordham, the Bulldogs continue to be a force in the Northeast. In 2010, Bryant saw a winning record at season's end for the first time in the DI era, going 18-17 (5-11 NEC) and earning the most victories of any DI program in Rhode Island. The 18 victories marked the highest win total for the program since entering the DI ranks in 2008. The Bulldogs got off to a fantastic start to the year, going 12-5 in their first 17 games before entering conference play and had several impressive runs throughout the season, including a five-game winning streak that saw the program earn its first win over a BCS opponent with a 3-2 topping of Boston College on Sept. 11. The Black and Gold also finished 3-1 or better in three early season tournaments, emerging as champions at the Bryant Invitational and sharing the title with host Army at the West Point Challenge. The 2009 campaign saw the first-ever NEC postseason honors for Garlacy's squad, as then-sophomore Maria Scocca was named second team all-conference after leading the league in blocks (153) and pacing the Black and Gold in nearly every offensive category, including kills (406), aces (38) and points (529.0). Scocca flourished under Garlacy's system, also setting a pair of new NEC single-game marks. Her 29 kills against Providence College set an NEC match high, while her 15 blocks against crosstown rival Brown tied a record set in 1998. Scocca would also ride those numbers to an All-Independent Player of the Year selection. In 2008, Bryant's first season of DI play, Garlacy guided her Bulldogs to a 16-19 record against a slate of proven Division I opponents, coming up with big wins against teams from not just the Northeast Conference, but programs from the Patriot League, the Ivy League and the America East as well. During the 12 seasons prior Bryant's move to Division I, Garlacy led the Bulldogs to 10 NCAA Division II tournament appearances (including berths in the final nine seasons), an ECAC Championship, five Northeast-10 Conference regular-season titles and seven appearances in the conference championship match, claiming five tournament crowns. In 2007, Bryant's final season in Division II, the Bulldogs went out with a bang, winning not just the Northeast-10 Conference regular-season title with a perfect 14-0 conference record (32-13 overall), but also capturing the program's fifth Northeast-10 Conference Tournament Championship and 10th berth into the NCAA tournament, making it all the way to the Sweet 16. Garlacy has accrued a myriad of accomplishments and milestones during her storied career, including recording the program's 700th victory during the 2007 season. Garlacy notched her 100th career victory in 1999, just four years into her head coaching career. Four years later, she earned win No. 200, following that with victory No. 300 on September 15, 2006. Garlacy enters the 2015 season boasting a career coaching record of 435-285 (.604), with a final Division II mark of 344-140 (.711). She left Division II ranked No. 24 in winning percentage and No. 26 in career victories among active coaches and is the 17th most winningest coach in DII history. Garlacy leaves the NE-10 ranked second all-time in career wins. Over the years, Garlacy has served as a member of the NCAA regional volleyball committee, the ECAC championships committee and the NCAA volleyball rules committee. Honored by the Rhode Island Special Olympics with the Distinguished Service Award in 2003, Garlacy is a 1988 graduate of Providence College and earned a master's degree in teaching from Rhode Island College in 1992. OTHER CAREER HIGHLIGHTS      > Garlacy has been involved with all 10 of Bryant's NCAA appearances, nine as head coach and one as an assistant.      > In just her second season as Bryant's head coach, Garlacy was recognized as the 1997 Northeast-10 Conference Coach         of the Year after leading the Bulldogs to a 28-13 record and an NCAA tournament appearance.      > In 1998, Garlacy led Bryant to the NE-10 Championship and the ECAC title, as Bryant finished with a 30-13 record.      > The Bulldogs returned to the NCAA field in 1999, despite losing five starters from the '98 conference championship         team.      > Garlacy's Bulldogs made it two-straight national tournament appearances when they qualified again in 2000, despite          having no seniors on the roster.      > Garlacy led a veteran squad to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2001.      > A year later, in 2002, the Bulldogs advanced to the regional final, leaving Bryant among the last 16 teams alive in the         NCAA tournament.      > In 2003, the Bulldogs enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in school history, winning a school-record 37         matches and posting an undefeated Northeast-10 Conference record en route to the league regular-season and         tournament titles. Garlacy was named the 2003 Northeast-10 Coach of the Year.      > In 2004, the Bulldogs claimed yet another NE-10 Conference title with an undefeated record as well as the program's         sixth-straight NCAA regional appearance.      > The 2005 campaign saw Bryant successfully defended its conference tournament title, earning another berth in the         NCAA tournament and the right to host the regional at the Chace Athletic Center.

Garlacy enters his 22nd year as assistant volleyball coach at Bryant University, and a program would be hard-pressed to find a coach more devoted. Assisting his wife, head coach Theresa Garlacy, Ted plays a key role in all aspects of the Bulldog program, from recruiting and scouting to coordinating practice sessions, match administration and strength & conditioning. Since Garlacy came to Bryant in 1994, the Bulldogs have made 11 NCAA appearances, winning 20 or more matches in a season 10 times and topping the 30-win plateau on four occasions. Garlacy has been instrumental in the Bulldogs' move up to the Division I ranks as well as to the success the team has seen at the highest level of NCAA competition. In seven seasons, the Black and Gold have posted 91 victories over DI opponents from an array of top-tier conferences. During his years in Smithfield, Garlacy has also spent three seasons as an assistant coach and two years as head coach of the North Smithfield High School volleyball team, as well as serving as the head coach of the Brown men's club volleyball team. A 1991 graduate of Roger Williams University, Garlacy is a retired sergeant from the North Smithfield Police Department. He coordinates many of the Bulldogs' community service efforts throughout the year and is a longtime volunteer with the Special Olympics. Garlacy received a master's degree from Bryant in May 2007 and is currently an account manager at Lincoln Fine Ingredients, Inc.

Marissa Soistman joined Rhode Island as the program’s assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in July of 2024. She enters her second season with the program in 2025. In her first season with Rhode Island, Soistman helped the Rams more than double their win total from the previous year. URI was 9-22 overall and 4-14 in Atlantic 10 play in 2024. The year before, the team was 4-26 overall and 1-17 in the league. Before coming to Rhody, Soistman spent the previous three seasons on the staff at New Hampshire, where she worked with URI head coach Ryan Sullivan. Soistman began with the Wildcats as a graduate assistant and director of operations before earning a promotion to assistant coach before the 2023 season. During her three seasons at UNH, the Wildcats were 53-31, including a 20-12 mark in America East play. In 2023, New Hampshire finished second in the America East, closing out the regular season on a seven-match winning streak. In each of Soistman’s three seasons, New Hampshire reached at least the conference semifinals, including a run to the championship finals in 2022. Last season, the Wildcats had an RPI of 113, the highest for the program since the 2003 season. Soistman helped New Hampshire middle blocker Kara Oxenknecht earn America East Rookie of the Year and first team all-conference honors in 2022. That year, outside hitter Hannah Serbousek was named to the second team. Last fall, Serbousek and middle blocker Alysa Wright were first team selections, while middle blocker Kelly Kaufmann was a second team honoree and setter Jessica Shattles was named to the all-rookie team. Soistman was the head coach for the 603 United Volleyball Club in Hampton, N.H. from November of 2023 through May of 2024. Soistman was a multi-year captain for NJIT’s women’s volleyball program, where she was a setter. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Law, Technology and Culture from NJIT in May of 2021. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with honors in both Chi Alpha Sigma and Phi Alpha Theta. Soistman went on to complete a master’s degree in Kinesiology/Sports Studies from New Hampshire in May of 2023. updated 8/15/2025  

Delor, a native of Marysville, Michigan, brings a plethora of volleyball experience to Smithfield as a player and a coach. She started every match in her 5-year collegiate career and surpassed 1,000 career kills and digs. Delor began her collegiate career at Urbana University, spending two seasons there from 2018-19 before the school closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She was a two-year starter for the Blue Knights and earned Mountain East All-Conference honors twice. She then transferred to CSU-Pueblo, spending three seasons with the Thunderwolves from 2020-22. As a junior in 2021, she set a new program record with 52 service aces. She earned All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) honors twice with the Thunderwolves. After her collegiate career she began her coaching journey. It took her to Pittsburg State University in Kansas to start as a graduate assistant. She spent two seasons with the Gorillas (2023-24) at the Division II level. Delor then made the jump to the Division I level, joining the Texas A&M Corpus-Christi coaching staff as an assistant for the 2025 season. With the Islanders, she oversaw all travel for the team and helped the program reach the semifinal match of the Southland conference tournament, defeating the No. 3 seed Southeastern 3-0 in the quarterfinal round. Delor graduated from CSU-Pueblo with a bachelor's degree in English with an emphasis on secondary education. She then earned a master's degree in creative writing from Pittsburg State.

Bio Nicole Matarese begins her 2nd year as the Assistant Coach for Cheerleading and Dance.

Dr. Matthew Visconti is the first Director of Bands at Bryant University and received his Doctorate from the University of Memphis, his Master’s degree from Boston University and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Hartford all in Applied Performance and Pedagogy and a cognate in Music History He is an active freelance musician in the greater Boston area and has had the privilege to perform in venues such as Boston’s Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall, Worcester’s Mechanics Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall, as well as venues in Spain and Portugal including a performance in the prestigious Granada Festival in Spain. Matthew has been asked to perform with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the Memphis Jazz Orchestra, the Louisville Orchestra, the Kentucky Opera Orchestra, the Louisville Ballet Orchestra and the Jackson Symphony Orchestras in Mississippi and in Tennessee. He has also been selected as a participant for the Cleveland Trombone Seminar, the Pokorny Seminar, and the Rafael Mendez Brass Institute. He has also given numerous master classes at many high schools and colleges as well as various instrumental workshops. His history of teachers includes Gabriel Rice, bass trombonist of the Vermont Symphony and Rhode Island Philharmonic, Don Lucas, an internationally renowned trombone soloist, Toby Oft, Principal Trombonist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Ron Borror, retired trombonist of the New York City Ballet Orchestra, and Dr. John Mueller of the University of Memphis. Dr. Visconti has received additional instruction during seminars and clinics from members of organizations including the Detroit Symphony, the Boston Symphony, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the St. Louis Symphony, the Croatian National Opera Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the New York City Ballet, and the New York Philharmonic, the Dallas Symphony, the Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Visconti is currently the Bass Trombonist of the Andromeda Quintet and The Mercury Orchestra. He has also served on faculty at Stonehill College, Bunker Hill Community College, Jackson State University, Dyersburg State Community College and Arkansas State University-Mid South where he taught Applied Trombone, Music Theory, Music History, Music Appreciation, Marching Band, Chamber Music, and Orchestral Techniques. Dr. Visconti also writes reviews for the International Trombone Journal.