A lasting legacy: Santiago leaves as one of Rider’s greats

By Samantha Clark and Joshua Yuhas

Shining on the volleyball court as one of Rider’s greatest athletes, senior opposite Kiannisha Santiago has carved her name into Broncs history. Before the accolades and records, though, she was simply trying to find her place; one she now leaves as one of the program’s most impactful players.

New beginnings

Starting from the age of five, Santiago’s volleyball journey began in San Juan on the island of Puerto Rico, where she played for her middle school and high school teams, while competing for the South Coast Volleyball club.

Playing as both an outside hitter and an opposite, Santiago learned how to adapt her position early, a trait that became critical in her development as a player.

While playing in Puerto Rico, her aspirations to play at the collegiate level in the  United States bloomed, and in 2020, she made the move stateside for high school at Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City. 

With the international move, Santiago entered into the recruiting world late, however, that did not stop Rider Volleyball Head Coach Jeff Rotondo from spotting her potential.

“There were a few people we were in pretty deep conversations with in that recruiting class, but we figured out, ‘let’s give this kid a look,’” Rotondo said.

Through an invite from her high school coach, Rotondo was impressed by Santiago, but also recognized there was work to do.

Flipping perspectives to Santiago, she contacted Coach Rotondo and his staff, where throughout talks, she established herself, leading them to bring her into the program.

“I sent an email to Rotondo. He came to see me in practice and we shared emails,” Santiago said. “He took me on a tour, we had a meeting and I decided I wanted to come to Rider.”

Setting herself apart through her athletic ability in the recruitment process, she demonstrated a reliable piece for the Broncs, and Coach Rotondo saw the vision for her influence on their roster construction.

“Everything she did on the court and off the court pretty much let us know that this was a kid we needed to build around,” Rotondo said.

Earning her spot

Shortly after moving to America, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, restricting Santiago’s direct contact with the English language. 

With that, she started her first day at Rider as a shy and timid Bronc, the language barrier proving to be one of her biggest obstacles off the court.

Santiago began as a walk-on for Rider, appearing in 22 matches in the 2022 season. She earned 12 starts, the second-most among all freshmen that year. 

She continued this success in the following two years, earning Second Team All-MAAC honors after her sophomore season and First-Team All-MAAC honors after her junior year.

Although her hard work at Rider was seemingly successful, Santiago was still not satisfied with her performance on the court.

“There were times throughout my junior season that I wanted to give up, because volleyball wasn’t going the way I wanted to go,” Santiago said. “[But my mom] always picked my head up, talking positively, and thanks to her, I never gave up.”

In addition to her mom, who she credited as her best friend and main source of motivation, Santiago’s teammates served as her family on the court, pushing her to be better each and everyday. 

Whether it is driving teammates to the grocery store, working out together or making memories in and outside of practices and matches, the culture of the Broncs is synonymous with a familial connection.

Santiago said, “We don’t call us a team, we call us a family.”

Senior libero Keegan O’Connor, who joined the team with Santiago in 2022, said, “Coming in as a walk-on, not playing much her freshman year, to winning Player of the Year… it’s an insane growth that she’s had,” O’Connor said.

‘I wrote that goal in my notebook’

In her senior season, Santiago was unstoppable, leading the Broncs with 435 kills, fourth in the MAAC, paired with 515 points, second in the MAAC.

Reaching milestones in her final season had a profound impact on Santiago, particularly reaching the 1,000 career kills mark during her stellar 2025 season.

“It means a lot, especially coming as a walk-on and not having much playing time. Reaching the 1,000 kills really made me happy,” Santiago said.

Thriving in all regards, Santiago posted career highs on both offensive and defensive ends, breaking her season highs each year she played with Rider.

“She’s a catalyst, there is no doubt about it. She is the kind of player that, when people see her play, they want to match her energy, because it’s really hard not to. She plays with so much fire and energy,” Rotondo said.

With All-MAAC honors her last two seasons, Santiago wanted more than repeating this performance. 

Instead, she had a bigger goal in sight — the MAAC Player of the Year honors.

“As soon as we started preseason, I wrote that goal in my notebook, and I just kept trying to do my best to achieve that,” Santiago said.

Coach Rotondo saw her confidence develop throughout her career, and her predetermination paid off when the conference coaches voted her for the 2025 MAAC Player of the Year.

Santiago’s feats were also recognized by her Rider peers, which has a unique impact on a student-athlete.

During her time on campus, she has been told how students loved watching her play, which infused confidence in Santiago.

“I saw my name in the four or five nominated players and I was very confident, because of the support, messages and love that they shared daily around campus.” 

Through her continuous hard work and effort throughout the grueling 29-game season, the Broncs pushed their way into the finals with Santiago manning the front lines to get them there.

If there was a game to define her career, the answer was simple for the volleyball star of the Broncs.

“It was the Quinnipiac game in the semifinals. I almost had a perfect game,” she said.

Santiago led the Broncs in the game with 20 kills and third on the team in digs with nine, as Rider won over Quinnipiac University in four hard-fought sets to advance to the finals.

The win against Quinnipiac in the semi-final round of the conference championships perfectly culminated Santiago’s four years as a Bronc. 

In 2022, she faced the same competition as a freshman, where the team competed against Quinnipiac in the semi-final round. There, the Broncs lost 0-3, marking their 3-1 win in the 2025 season as a full-circle moment and the perfect end to her highly-decorated career.

Etched in history

Santiago recently signed a contract with an agent to advance her post-graduation goals of playing professional volleyball. 

Looking back at her four years repping cranberry and white, Santiago feels proud of her accomplishments, as well as gratitude for the program and the people that brought her so much.

“[Being a Bronc] means a lot, because Rider has done a lot of things for me.” Santiago said. “It means a lot to carry that name.”