College Volleyball
Iona College 3, Rider University 2
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.--For the second match in a row, the Broncs dropped a five-setter, falling at Iona in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Saturday afternoon. “It was another great competitive match,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “We did well sustaining our energy. Now we need to figure out how to finish.”
The Gaels won 24-30, 30-26, 26-30, 30-16, 15-11.
For Rider (1-16, 0-8 MAAC), junior Lacey Johnson (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) and freshman Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) each had a ?double-double'. Johnson had 19 kills and 15 digs with Thompson adding 19 digs and 15 kills along with six service aces.
Johnson now has 979 digs in her career.
“We came out really strong but we weren't consistent the entire match,” Johnson said. “We definitely surprised Iona with our energy. We served tough but we also missed a lot of serves and that eventually cost us the match.”
“Lacey had a good overall match,” Ahlquist said. “She was ?in the zone' as we like to say.”
In game one, the Broncs won by six after jumping out to an early 13-5 lead.
In the second game that saw 15 ties and 11 lead changes, the Gaels escaped with a four point win Tied at 17, Iona used a 5-0 run to clinch the game.
In the third game, Rider opened up an eight point lead at 23-15 before the Gaels used an 11-3 run to tie the game at 26. Rider held on with a 4-0 run for the win.
“We did well serving and had very good ball control in the first three games,” Ahlquist added. “In the last two games, we didn't serve as well and Iona made some adjustments. If you serve well, it keeps you on the offensive because it can cause a lot of free balls that you then end the point on so even f you don't get credit for the service ace, you get the point with minimal effort.”
In the fourth game, the Gaels jumped out to a 15-5 lead and cruised to the 14 point win to tie the match.
In the fifth and deciding game, Iona (7-12, 5-2 MAAC) opened up a 10-5 lead, wrapping up the four point win.
Freshman Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) had six blocks and four aces with freshman Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) adding 43 assists for Rider.
The Broncs have dropped 10 straight.
“We are playing better than we did at the beginning of the year,” Johnson added. “It is a little frustrating not getting the wins but it is a positive that we've been able to bring up our play and the last two matches are reflective of that with us forcing fifth games. We are going to continue working hard and stay positive.”
Rider travels to Baltimore to face Loyola on October 13 in a MAAC match.
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