College Volleyball
Niagara University 3, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
LAWRENCEVILLE-Despite a 'double-double' from junior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville), the Rider University volleyball team lost in straight sets to Niagara in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Saturday afternoon at the Student Recreation Center.
The Purple Eagles won 28-26, 25-19, 25-22 in a match that featured 36 ties and 10 lead changes.
"It was a fantastic match," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "It was a total battle. Anyone who knows anything about volleyball would look at that and say it was a battle. Neither team gave an inch. Both teams played very well."
Piccolini had 31 assists and 11 digs in the match.
"Amanda was able to distribute the ball because our passing was on," Ahlquist said. "She was able to find the blockers and give our hitters the best possible position."
Also for the Broncs, freshman Briana Wallace (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) had 10 kills while hitting .320 and led Rider with 10.5 points.
"Briana was able to go after the ball," Ahlquist said. "She just wanted to put the ball on the floor. I love that attitude. She will do anything for that point."
Senior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) led Rider (3-15, 1-6 MAAC) with 12 digs with senior Alex Chapla (Aliquippa, Pa./Center Area) adding 10 digs and three blocks.
Tied at 10 in the opening set, Niagara (12-6, 5-2 MAAC) scored five of the next six points to take a 15-11 lead. Rider rallied to tie the set at 17 off two kills by junior Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland). Love finished with eight kills in the match. A 5-0 run gave the Purple Eagles a 22-17 lead before Rider withstood a match point and tied the set at 24 on three Purple Eagle attack errors and a service ace by Jeary. Jeary had two aces on the day. The Broncs staved off three more set points before the set ended on two Rider attack errors with Niagara prevailing by two.
Set two started with the teams trading the first 18 points for a 9-9 tie. An 8-1 Purple Eagle run gave Niagara a seven-point lead and Niagara was able to hold on by six heading into the 10 minute intermission.
Set three saw neither team giving an inch. With the score tied at 13, both squads could not gain the upper hand, trading points until the score was tied at 22, the 18th and final tie of the set. Rider's eighth service error of the set and two Purple Eagle kills led to a 3-0 run to clinch the set by three and win the match for Niagara.
"We were going after their offense with our serves," Ahlquist said about the late match struggles from the service line. "We were going after them to keep Niagara out of its offense and that is how we got to that point of the match. We would not have gotten to that point if we hadn't taken that chance."
Rider has won six of the 17 matches all-time against Niagara. Last season, the Broncs defeated Niagara 3-1 in Lawrenceville and 3-2 at Niagara, their only two conference wins of the season.
The Broncs have lost three straight and nine of 10 matches.
Rider hosts Canisius (7-10, 4-3 MAAC) in a 2pm MAAC match on Sunday. The Golden Griffins rallied from a two sets to one deficit to win in five sets at Loyola on Saturday.
"With this energy that the players had today, it was such a huge improvement over last weekend," Ahlquist added. "Absolutely a huge improvement and I am excited for tomorrow's match."
-RU-
