LAWRENCEVILLE?The Rider University volleyball team broke a three-game losing streak, battling back to defeat Niagara University in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Sunday afternoon. “We needed to play better than we did yesterday and we did,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “We were more consistent, had more energy and today was just a better team effort.”
The Broncs won 22-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 over the Purple Eagles in a four-set match that saw 24 ties and 11 lead changes. “We extended our runs and kept Niagara's runs at a minimum,” Ahlquist said. “We needed to defend our home court and were successful in doing that. The crowd was vocal and into the match and that helped us.”
For Rider (8-6, 1-3 MAAC), senior Lacey Johnson (Centennial, Colo./Grandview) had her second ?double-double' of the weekend and the 23rd of her career with 13 digs and 11 kills.
“I thought we had a good turn around from yesterday,” said Johnson. “We came out with a lot more energy and we recovered from our errors a lot better today. We played better as a team.”
“This was an important match and Lacey stepped up,” Ahlquist said. “Lacey had a solid, consistent weekend. She does so many things for us that don't show up in the box score.”
Sophomore Elyse Grassmuck (San Antonio, Texas/La Vernia) had the second highest total of her career with 39 assists. Junior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) added 22 digs for the Broncs.
“Every time we needed a point, Elyse set it up,” said Ahlquist. “She did great in our 5-1 setup. She got into a good rhythm and really ran the floor well.”
“We finally decided it was time to win,” said Grassmuck. “Today it finally just clicked. The passers were passing well and the hitters were hitting well. Katelyn [Thompson] did amazing and I was able to rely on all of my teammates to get me the ball so I could set the attack.”
Sophomore Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) hit an outstanding .290 for the match with 13 kills and three service aces. Thompson accounted for 25 percent of the Bronc scoring.
“You need more than one offensive person, more than one go to person, to be successful,” Ahlquist said. “Katelyn and our middles did a great job. Katelyn's energy and power in the match were excellent. Having multiple weapons, stealing a line from Rider women's basketball coach Lynn Milligan, makes us ?hard to defend'. Not knowing who we are setting is very difficult on our opponents.”
Trailing 5-1 in the first set, Niagara (3-12, 1-3 MAAC) used a 6-0 run to take a 7-5 lead. Rider tied the match twice, the last at 15 all before the Purple Eagles opened up a three-point lead at 21-18. The Broncs cut the Purple Eagle lead back to one two more times before losing by three.
“The first set, the teams were kind of feeling each other out,” Ahlquist said. “We were trying to get the matchups we needed and by the second set, we were better able to do that. Overall it was a typical MAAC match, winning by three, four and three. I would be surprised league wide if most of the sets weren't that close. Every match in the league is a battle, top to bottom.”
Trailing by six (17-11) in the second set, Rider rallied with a 13-3 run, five serves each by Thompson and Johnson to lead 24-20 in the eventual three point win. Thompson, Johnson and Jeary each had three service aces in the match.
Rider opened up an eight point lead in the third set (18-10) and staved off a Niagara rally (11-6 run) to win by four.
The fourth set, which saw seven ties and three lead changes, saw the Broncs rally from an 18-14 deficit with a 9-3 run to take a 23-21 lead, the 11th and final lead change of the match as Rider won the set by three.
The Broncs had team eight blocks in the match, led by five from junior Alex Chapla (Aliquippa, Pa./Center Area) and four by sophomore Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland). “It was very important to be able to defend at the net,” Ahlquist added. “Niagara has some great hitters and they just tee off on you. They are very aggressive and will beat you if your blocking isn't there.”
This is Rider's fifth win in the 15 match series against the Purple Eagles and the first over Niagara since 1998. The Broncs lost at Niagara 3-2 and lost to the Purple Eagles 3-0 in Alumni Gym last season.
Rider hosts Iona in a MAAC match at 2:00pm on Saturday, October 4 in Alumni Gym on the Lawrenceville, New Jersey campus.
“Every MAAC match is important,” Grassmuck added. “It would have been tough to recover from an 0-4 conference start so while it wasn't a ?must win' it certainly was important.”
“We are excited to have a few more home matches this coming weekend,” Ahlquist said. “Iona [Saturday] and Siena [Sunday] are going to be two tough teams and we are going to have to bring our ?A' game.”
“We went five sets with Iona last season so we are expecting a tough but exciting match,” Grassmuck added. “Siena is also a good team and we will have to step up our game and play with energy in order to be successful.”
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