College Volleyball
Manhattan College 3, Rider University 1
LAWRENCEVILLE?In the first home action of the 2007 season, the Broncs lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match to Manhattan Saturday. “It was frustrating today,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “I think with the conference starting earlier than it has, both teams are still trying to find their identity.”
Manhattan (2-9, 1-2 MAAC) won 31-29, 27-30, 30-22, 30-27.
“With the new players and the new setters we are still going through some period of adjustment,” Ahlquist said. “You are always going to have service and attack errors. It is a matter of when they come during the match. The ?red-zone' for volleyball is the first team reaching 20 points and after that, you have to focus and bear down and force the other team to make errors. You need to avoid the mental errors.”
For Rider (1-11, 0-3 MAAC) freshman Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) compiled 14 kills and 16 digs. Freshman Elyse Grassmuck (Seguin, Texas /La Vernia) had 23 assists and six service aces. Sophomore Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) had 20 digs, sophomore Brittany Hayes (Mitchelleville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) added 10 kills and junior Lacey Johnson (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) added eight kills and 13 digs.
“Katelyn is one of those players that can do a lot for us,” Ahlquist said. “She attacks the ball well and plays strong defense. She is one of those rare all-around players in the game today. She works hard and has a great attitude.”
“Overall we fell out of our own game,” said Thompson who notched her first career ?double-double'. “We couldn't pull through.”
In game one, Rider freshman Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio) compiled five service aces and had a stretch of five consecutive point-winning serves for the Broncs, as Rider built a 25-17 lead before losing 31-29. Piccolini finished with seven aces.
In game two Rider led 26-20 and held on to win 30-27.
In the fourth game, Rider trailed 15-10 and came back to tie the score at 20-20 and led 25-24 before losing the final game.
Today's match was the 2007 home opener for the Broncs who played 11 in a row away from Alumni Gym to start the season.
“It was nice to finally play a home match,” said Thompson. “We had some friendly faces in the crowd and people were supporting us.”
“I almost thought of renting a bus to drive the kids over to the gym,” Ahlquist added. “It was good for the players to finally experience what the Broncs' Zoo was all about and we are looking for that support to be there on Sunday against Siena and throughout the season.”
Rider hosts the Saints in a MAAC match Sunday at 2pm. “We need to come out strong,” Thompson added. “Siena is one of the top teams in the conference and we need to come out as tough as we can.”
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