College Volleyball
Marist College 3, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.--The Broncs were swept by Marist in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Thursday night. “Marist came out very fast and ready to play,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “We started slow and had to fight back.”
The Red Foxes defeated Rider (1-13, 0-5 MAAC) 30-23, 31-29, 30-27.
For the Broncs, senior Katrina Stehle (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield) had nine kills and a .286 hitting percentage with freshman Elyse Grassmuck (Seguin, Texas/La Vernia) adding 15 assists.
“We played a strong second game but could not finish,” Ahlquist added. “We've been playing well in spots but have been unable to finish those games without giving up the lead. We just have to continue to battle through and get better. It is a testament to our competitiveness that we are still battling.”
Freshman Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) had five blocks, four kills and three aces with sophomore Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) adding nine digs.
The Poughkeepsie trip on the conference schedule will always have special meaning to Ahlquist who came to Rider from Marist, where she was the head volleyball coach and Assistant Academic Athletic Advisor from 1995 to 1998. Ahlquist led Marist to a best-ever fourth place post-season finish in the MAAC in 1998.
“Playing the Red Foxes is almost like coming home a little bit,” said the Minnesota native Ahlquist. “My in-laws are from the area and I also got to see the club coaches that I used to coach with. So the trip does have some special meaning having spent four seasons at Marist.”
Rider has lost seven straight and travels to Fairfield for a MAAC match against the Stags Friday night.
-RU-
