Rider winning streak broken, splits MAAC matchups
By Lindsay Scarola
Rider volleyball hosted Sacred Heart University on Oct. 3 concluding their “Dude Be Nice” Campaign, beating the Pioneers 3-1 while falling to Fairfield University 3-1 on Oct. 4 to bring a close to its four-game winning streak.
‘Dude Be Nice’
The Broncs were down 5-2 early in the opening set against Sacred Heart. Up 11-10, Rider went on a 5-0 run to extend their lead, never looking back.
They had a comfortable 24-15 lead to close out the set 25-17 for the win.
Down 10-8 in set two, junior outside hitter Rylah Robinson had a kill and two blocks contributing to Rider’s 6-1 run.
Sacred Heart did not see this as a threat; it worked its way back to tie the set at 21.
After a long volley, senior opposite Kiannisha Santiago got a kill sparking a 3-0 run to lead 24-23 with Robinson hitting the final kill giving the Broncs a 25-25 set win.
In between sets two and three, the volleyball team honored Liz Sapudar, the academic support coordinator for student-athletes, for their Dude Be Nice Campaign who shows genuine kindness and is an all around caring person.
“Since she assumed her new role, she has helped to build a positive, uplifting, and strong community of student-athletes,” Head Coach Jeff Rotondo said.
Trailing 13-9, the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run to take the lead in set three.
Rider came back to tie the set at 19 eventually taking a 22-21 lead.
It got its first match point at 24-23 but the Pioneers countered. Tied 25-25, they were able to take set three 27-25, the Broncs needed to win set four.
The fourth was a back and forth battle, the Pioneers pulled ahead with a 3-0 run.
They eventually extended the lead 22-18, at that moment the Broncs got a side out to send Santiago to serve.
She served for six points with graduate middle hitter Carley McAleavey having a kill to give Rider that 7-0 run needed to close out the match 25-22.
The Broncs defeated the Pioneers 3-1.
Stags Strike
After leading 6-5 in the opening set, Rider expanded it with a 5-0 run. The Broncs would continue this drive to go up 18-11.
Fairfield had a 4-0 run but the Broncs countered with three-straight points for the lead. Fairfield countered the counter to pull within one.
Santiago had the kill and junior setter Makenna Mason aced to secure a 25-21 set victory for the Broncs.
Mason’s contributions got her named MAAC Setter of the Week and her teammate, senior libero Keegan O’Connor, was named Libero of the Week.
Rider led 10-7 in the second set looking strong against Fairfield but they fired back to take the lead.
Though the Broncs retook the lead 19-18 another 5-0 run by the Stags gave them the edge.
Fairfield took set two, 25-22.
Having the lead to start again, Rider had control and Fairfield went on a run to take the lead.
Ahead 14-10, the Broncs countered with a 5-0 run.
Tied at 19, the Stags went on a 4-1 run which would ultimately decide the set. The Broncs lost set three 25-22.
For the fourth set in a row, Rider was up early leading 7-6.
A 6-0 run later became a 10-1 lead, a gap the Broncs couldn’t come back from losing 25-14.
Rider fell to Fairfield 3-1.
The Broncs will be home to host the Quinnipiac University Bobcats on Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. and Oct. 11 against the Warriors of Merrimack College at 2 p.m. Both games will be streamed on BroncVision.
