College Volleyball
Siena College 3, Rider University 1
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
LAWRENCEVILLE?The Broncs lost a four-set Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match to Siena Sunday afternoon. “We came out serving tough and ran a faster game,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “We played better defense than we did on Saturday against Manhattan and limited Siena in the runs that they were able to get.”
The Saints defeated Rider 26-30, 30-20, 30-17, 30-24.
For Rider (1-12, 0-4 MAAC), freshman Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) had 10 kills with sophomore Brittany Hayes (Mitchelleville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) also compiling 10 kills.
“Overall, they worked together better as a team,” said Ahlquist. “We are starting to gel and we communicated better.”
“As a team we really stepped it up early because playing against a first place club like Siena, we wanted to show who we are and how the match was going to go,” said Love who also added three blocks. “We weren't worried about our record or their record, we just wanted to show that we were coming out ready to play.”
Rookie Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) compiled 16 digs, eight kills and three service aces with sophomore Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) adding 13 digs. Sophomore Shannon Bures (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) had 24 assists and two service aces.
Love, who has battled a nagging ankle injury all season is also adjusting to the speed of the collegiate game and the level of competition.
“The game is a lot faster,” Love said. “The first 13 games have shown me what I have the potential to do and I am really excited about what the team can accomplish in the MAAC. The conference teams are tough. Each team has some great things about them and our job is to take that away, whether it is their blocking or setting. We have to figure out what that is and stop that while doing the things that go to our strengths.”
“It is tough for all of the freshmen adjusting to the speed of the game,” Ahlquist said. “The speed and facing teams that come ready to play on every point are the two biggest adjustments. With that said, our younger players are starting to find their way and are getting better as we play more.”
“Kristy has been persistent for us,” said assistant coach Michelle Walsh. “She is playing well and is only 50 percent due to her ankle. She is competitive and won't stop working even though she is not at full strength. She just wants to play and that effort has been a huge lift for the team.”
Siena (9-3, 4-0 MAAC) was led by Nadiege Honore who had 23 kills and 20 digs. The Saints have now won eight straight and the Broncs have dropped six in a row.
“Siena has some very good hitters,” Love added. “We made some adjustments early in our blocking scheme that got them down a little. In the final three games, Siena was able to make adjustments to counter what we were doing.”
Today marked only the second home match in 2007. “I hadn't really experienced playing at home this season until this past weekend,” Love said. “Playing on our floor feels more comfortable and having the fans our here supporting us was great.”
“Being on our home floor is helping us,” Ahlquist added. “Having familiar surroundings and playing in front of fans that are supporting you contributed to the successes that we were able to have. We were able to take a game off the first place team in the conference and the other games were a battle.”
The conference battles continue as Rider travels to Poughkeepsie, New York for a MAAC match against Marist Thursday night.
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