BUFFALO, N.Y.?Despite a ?double-double' effort of 38 assists and 11 digs from sophomore Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville), the Rider University volleyball team lost a four-set Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match at Canisius Sunday afternoon. “We played well defensively,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “The stats don't indicate that it was a good match but it really was.”
The Broncs lost to the Golden Griffins 23-25, 29-27, 25-18, 25-18.
For Piccolini it was her second ?double-double' in the last three matches, third of the season and seventh of her career.
“Amanda has stepped in and given us some leadership the last few matches,” said Ahlquist. “She has added some stability to our setter position and leads by example.”
Also for Rider (9-11, 2-8 MAAC), senior Lindsay Brant (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) had 15 kills, sophomore Elyse Grassmuck (San Antonio, Texas/La Vernia) had 13 kills and nine digs with junior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) adding 22 digs.
Leading 12-11 in the first set, Rider went on a 5-0 run, two service aces by Piccolini, opening up a six point lead. Canisius battled back to get within one point twice before a Golden Griffin service error ended the set 25-23 in favor of Rider.
The Broncs have won 11 of the 15 sets decided by two points this season.
Set two which had eight ties and six lead changes, saw the Broncs battle back from a seven-point deficit (20-13) with a 12-4 run to take a one-point lead. The Golden Griffins staved off two set points and ended the battle with a kill and service ace to tie the match at one.
“We had our chances but didn't capitalize,” Ahlquist added. “We had two set points in the second set and didn't win and that swung the momentum to Canisius. If we would have gone up two sets to none, we probably would have won the match.”
Tied at 10 in the third set, Canisius scored 10 of the next 16 points, winning the set by seven 25-18.
The Golden Griffins repeated that performance in the fourth set, winning by seven (25-18) by breaking a 16 all tie with a 9-2 run to clinch the match.
Overall, the match featured 26 ties and 15 lead changes.
Canisius (13-6, 8-2 MAAC), which defeated Rider 3-0 in Lawrenceville, New Jersey on September 27, has won 13 of the 16 matches all-time against the Broncs including the last six in a row.
Rider hosts Fairfield in a MAAC match Friday night.
“It's a big weekend for us this coming weekend,” said Ahlquist. “We have two home matches and a chance to make up some ground in the standings. We improved from last weekend to this weekend and if we improve again next weekend, it will be a good weekend.”
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