POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.?The Rider University volleyball team lost in straight sets to Marist College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Saturday afternoon. “We just didn't show up today,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “In a tough road environment and a long trip to get here (4 ? hours), we needed the upperclassmen to step up and that did not happen.”
The Red Foxes defeated the Broncs 25-14, 25-15 25-14.
For Rider (8-9, 1-6 MAAC), sophomore Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) had 19 assists.
Marist improves to 8-12 and 3-4 in the MAAC.
Also for Rider, sophomore Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) had seven kills and three blocks.
In the opening set, Rider led 4-3 before the Red Foxes countered with a 5-0 run, making the score 8-4 Marist. Leading by four, a 12-5 run clinched the set for Marist by 11 points.
The second set saw the Red Foxes use six services aces for a 10 point win. Rider led 6-5 before a 5-0 run by Marist turned the set in the Red Foxes favor. The Broncs closed to within two points (12-10) midway through the set before Marist rallied with a 5-0 run to put the set away.
The Red Foxes left no doubt in the final set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead. Rider cut the lead to three (5-2) before a 5-0 Red Fox run gave Marist an eight point cushion in the eventual 11 point win.
“We just didn't communicate,” Ahlquist added. “We could do nothing right and Marist could do nothing wrong.”
Rider has won 12 of the 22 matches all-time against the Red Foxes however Marist has won the last four dating back to the 2006 season. The Red Foxes defeated the Broncs 3-0 and 3-2 in 2007.
Rider hosts Saint Peter's on Sunday at 2:00pm in Alumni Gym. The Peahens defeated the Broncs 3-1 on September 20 in Jersey City. “Having played Saint Peter's once already will be a good measuring stick for us,” Ahlquist added. “It's important to gauge how far we've come over the last month since we've last seen them.”
Rider enters Sunday's match having lost three straight.
“We'll be at home Sunday so that will help,” Ahlquist said. “We've have a good little rivalry going with Saint Peter's and hopefully we'll show up. We just did not show up today.”
