College Volleyball - La Salle Invitational
Rider University 3, Lafayette College 1
University of Northern Colorado 3, Rider University 0
PHILADELPHIA, Pa.?The year was 2004. Gas was a buck sixty a gallon and it was also the last time that the Rider University volleyball team won its season opening match.
Fast forward to 2008 and for the Broncs history repeated itself as the team won its opening match and split two matches overall on the day one of the La Salle Invitational Friday afternoon. “I wanted the team to play with a high amount of energy and we did that,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist, in her 10th season at Rider.
That 2004 season saw Ahlquist named Metro Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year, guiding the Broncs to 15 wins and a MAAC championship semi-final berth. “I hope we can repeat the success of 2004 including the $1.60 gas prices,” Ahlquist said.
The Broncs defeated Lafayette in four sets (18-25, 25-21, 25-15, 25-14) before falling to Northern Colorado in three sets (17-25, 13-25, 12-25).
“Both Lafayette and Northern Colorado are really good teams,” Ahlquist said. “Playing a tough schedule early really shows you what you have to work on as a team.”
For Rider (1-1) against Lafayette, senior Lindsay Brant (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) had 12 digs and nine kills while adding two blocks with sophomore Elyse Grassmuck (San Antonio, Texas/La Vernia) adding 12 assists, six digs and five service aces.
“The aces by Elyse were huge,” Ahlquist added. “When you don't have to defend a service return and you keep picking up points, you create distance from the other team on the scoreboard and you have exerted less energy to pick up the point. That helps you later in the match, especially if you go more than three sets.”
Sophomore Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) compiled 27 assists in the two matches including 17 assists and six digs against Lafayette.
“The first match, we had a high amount of energy,” said Grassmuck, who was national ranked in service aces as a rookie in 2007. “We dug the ball well and made some great shots. The second match, the energy level dropped off and Northern Colorado dominated us.”
Rider has won 22 of the 33 matches all-time against Lafayette and the Broncs are 0-1 against Northern Colorado.
“We got a solid effort from everyone today,” Ahlquist said. “That depth will be important so our opponents won't be able to focus on one or two players. Everyone will be a threat to score from anywhere on the court. The first match especially was a good, solid team effort.”
“It was important to win at least one match,” Grassmuck added. “We only won twice all of last season and we are already half way to that mark. We have almost everyone back with 10 letterwinners on the squad. We have a lot of confidence and we have the potential for a good season.”
In the first set of the opening match against Lafayette, Rider jumped out to a 4-0 lead before the Leopards responded with a 5-0 run. With the set tied at eight, Lafayette used a 9-3 run to open up a six point lead and won by seven.
In the second set, Rider trailed 16-10 before Grassmuck had two service aces and an assist, sparking the Broncs to a 20-18 lead with the 10-2 run as Rider won by four points.
The third set saw an 11-4 run turn an 8-6 Bronc lead into a 19-10 score as Rider won by 10 to lead the match two sets to one.
Leading 9-7 in the fourth and final set, Rider used a 5-0 run to seal the set and the match, winning by nine.
The second match saw the Broncs dominated by a veteran Northern Colorado squad that scrimmaged overseas against the Chinese national team in the spring.
In the first set, Rider trailed by two (16-14) before the Bears ended the set on a 9-3 run to win by eight.
An 8-8 tie quickly became a rout in the second set with Northern Colorado going on a 14-4 run to put the set away.
The Bears jumped out to a 13-3 in the third and final set and ended the set and overall match with a 9-0 run.
The Broncs face the host Explorers at noon before finishing up tournament play against Villanova at 4:30pm on Saturday.
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