College Volleyball ? George Washington Invitational
Rider University 3, Delaware State University 0
George Washington University 3, Rider University 0
Thompson / Johnson All-Tournament
Jeary ? 1,000 Career Digs
WASHINGTON, D.C.?The Rider University volleyball team split two matches on the final day of the George Washington Invitational Saturday, winning two out of three overall during the tournament this weekend.
The Broncs defeated Delaware State 3-0 (25-20, 25-18, 28-26) before falling to the host Colonials in straight sets (19-25, 21-25, 21-25).
“Both Delaware State and George Washington are very good programs,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “Especially Delaware State, they are a tough team and we had to play very well to defeat them.”
For Rider (6-3), sophomore Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) and senior Lacey Johnson (Centennial, Colo./Grandview) received All-Tournament honors. Thompson averaged 2.33 kills per set and 0.33 blocks per set. Johnson averaged 2.67 kills per set, 2.56 digs per set, 0.44 aces per set and 0.44 blocks per set. “I was excited to have received All-Tournament honors,” said Thompson. “Even though we didn't play as well in the last match, we still had a good tournament.”
Against George Washington (5-2), senior Lindsay Brant (Long Beach, N.Y./Long Beach) had a ?double-double' with 11 kills and 10 digs. Against DSU (3-6), Brant had 12 kills and eight digs, accounting for 13.5 of Rider's team points. Brant was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week last week after earning All-Tournament honors at Sacred Heart Invitational.
“Against DSU, we served and played defense well,” Ahlquist added. “We had an all around solid match. The GW match was a lot better than the stats show. The Colonials brought their ?A' game and we had to play a gritty match. We fought and battled; we just ran out of steam at the end after playing twice today.”
Also for the Broncs, junior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) had five service aces against the Hornets and picked up career dig 1,000 against George Washington in the first set. Jeary had 33 digs on Saturday, averaging 5.00 digs per set in the tournament.
“It was pretty cool,” Jeary said about hitting her 1000th dig. “I didn't realize that I was that close. We played really well today and we came out of the tournament with a lot of positives.”
“Amy has had a fantastic career so far and we're all excited about her reaching that milestone,” said Ahlquist. “She still had the better part of two seasons left and I'm glad she's on our side, playing for Rider.”
Sophomore Elyse Grassmuck (San Antonio, Texas/La Vernia) had 32 assists in the two matches on Saturday with fellow sophomore Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) adding 24 assists.
Tied at seven against Delaware State in the first set, Rider went on a 6-0 run, maintaining the lead enroute to a five point win.
Trailing 15-13 in the second set, the Broncs went on a 8-0 run, three service aces by Jeary to win the set by seven. Jeary finished with eight services aces on Saturday.
The third set saw 13 ties and six lead changes as Rider staved off three set points and used a 3-0 run to win 28-26 and clinch the match.
In the first set against GW, the score was tied at three before the Colonials went on a 4-0 run, eventually opening up an eight point lead.
The second set saw Rider battle back from an eight point deficit to get within three at 24-21 before GW clinched the set on a Bronc attack error.
A six point run broke a 14-14 tie in the third set with the Colonials winning by four to end the match.
Rider is undefeated in three matches all-time against Delaware State and the Broncs have lost twice all-time against George Washington.
The Broncs host Wagner College in the 2008 home opener on Wednesday at 6:00 p.m., in Alumni Gym on the Lawrenceville, New Jersey campus.
“Playing at home after nine straight on the road is going to be exciting,” said Jeary. “We should have a lot of fans there and we are excited about playing on our home court. I think we'll play well.”
“It's great to have taken two out of three this weekend,” Ahlquist said. “Our performance gives us some confidence going into the home match on Wednesday.”
As the Meatloaf song says, two out of three ain't bad.
-RU-
