College Volleyball
Siena College 3, Rider University 1
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
LAWRENCEVILLE-Despite a career-high 14 kills from freshman Briana Wallace (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) and 13 kills from junior Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills), the Rider University volleyball team lost in four sets to Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Saturday afternoon.
The Saints won 25-19, 25-17, 21-25, 25-20.
"It was a battle point for point," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "I thought we covered the court better than we have in a long time. We found some holes in Siena's defense and we took advantage of them. It was a battle. Our serving kept us in the match. Siena has some fantastic hitters."
The match featured 26 ties and 13 lead changes.
"Briana brought fire, speed and energy to her play today," Ahlquist said about her freshman outside hitter. "She had a 'go after it' attitude." Wallace hit .244 in the match.
"Katelyn brought her smarts to the match today," Ahlquist added about her junior right side hitter. "Everyone knows she can hit the ball and today she was smart about when to do what on the court." Thompson hit .321 in the match.
Also for the Broncs, junior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) had 38 assists.
"Amanda is a very steady influence," Ahlquist said. "She did a good job today of who to set." Piccolini has 183 of her team-high 398 assists in the last six matches.
Senior Tara Hansen (Beachwood/Toms River HS South) tied a season-high with 16 digs with senior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) adding 15 digs for Rider. Jeary is the all-time Bronc dig leader with 1,725.
Burgandy McCurty (24 kills, 16 digs) and Aubrey Bobo (20 kills, 15 digs) each had a 'double-double' for the Saints.
Also for the Broncs, senior Alex Chapla (Aliquippa, Pa./Center Area) had 10 points on eight kills and nine digs.
Junior Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford/Sutherland) had six kills and five blocks for Rider.
The Broncs led 14-12 in the opening set before Siena rallied with a 4-0 run to take a two-point lead. Leading 18-17, the Saints won seven of the last nine points to take a one set lead in the match.
Tied at eight in the second set, Siena used a 7-1 run to take a six-point lead at 15-9 and eventually won the set by eight.
The third set, which had nine ties and four lead changes, saw Rider break a 20-20 tie with a 5-1 run, two kills by Thompson to win the set and cut the Saint set lead to 2-1.
The Saints broke a 13-13 tie in the fourth set with a 5-1 run, eventually clinching the match with a five-point win.
Siena (9-11, 7-4 MAAC) defeated Rider (3-20, 1-11 MAAC) 3-0 on September 20 in Loudonville, N.Y.
The Saints defeated the Broncs twice last season (3-0, 3-2) and have won 16 of the 19 matches in the series against Rider with the last Bronc win in 2004.
The Broncs have lost eight straight and 14 of 15 matches.
Saturday's match was senior day with Rider honoring Alex Chapla (Aliquippa, Pa./Center Area), co-captain Tara Hansen (Beachwood/Toms River HS South), Brittany Hayes (Mitchellville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) and co-captain Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) prior to the match.
"The seniors did a good job today with their emotions," Ahlquist said. "Senior day is tough and they did a good job keeping their emotions in check."
Rider travels to Western New York to face Canisius and Niagara in a pair of MAAC matches October 31 and November 1. "I like the Buffalo trip," said Ahlquist. It will give our team a chance to bond more."
The Broncs lost to Canisius 3-1 on October 11 and Niagara 3-0 on October 10 in Lawrenceville.
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