College Volleyball
Canisius College 3, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
BUFFALO, N.Y.--In a match played on Halloween, the Rider University volleyball team put a scare into Canisius before losing in straight sets Saturday afternoon in Buffalo.
The Golden Griffins won 25-23, 25-20, 25-16, despite 12 kills and six digs from junior Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills).
"Katelyn Thompson played very well for us," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "She was very smart on offense and was savvy on defense. Tara Hansen also played well on defense, grabbing up plays that were pretty amazing." Hansen, a senior from Beachwood (Toms River HS South) had three digs in the match.
Senior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) added 10 digs for Rider with junior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) scoring 31 assists.
"The team battled, fought and competed," Ahlquist added. "We didn't get the outcome that we wanted but we feel good because we competed. We are staying in matches with some great teams and we are making progress in a lot areas. We may not be getting the outcome that we would like but we feel that we are right there."
In the opening set, Canisius took an early five-point lead, winning 10 of the first 15 points. Trailing 11-7, Rider went on a 4-0 run to tie the set, taking advantage of three Golden Griffin attack errors and a kill by Thompson. Trailing 13-11, the Broncs took a 15-14 lead off a kill by junior Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) and block by senior Brittany Hayes (Mitchellville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) and senior Alex Chapla (Aliquippa, Pa./Center Area). Love had eight kills with Chapla compiling six blocks and Hayes three blocks. The teams traded points late in the set, forging five ties, the last at 22-22 before Canisius won three of the final four points to clinch the set 25-23. There were 12 ties and six lead changes in the first set.
Set two was another close battle with the teams trading the first 20 points for a 10-10 tie. The Golden Griffins won five of the next seven points to go up 15-12 before Rider responded with kills by Thompson and Love to get within one at 16-15. A 6-3 run gave Canisius a 22-17 lead before a 3-0 run (two kills by Hayes) brought the set back to within two at 22-20. The Golden Griffins then won the final three points of the set to go up 2-0. Hayes finished with five kills.
"We competed very well," said Ahlquist. "Sets one and two went really well. A better executed play here and a call there and we may have taken either or both of the first two sets."
Set three saw the Golden Griffins win seven of the first eight points and Canisius eventually opened up a 14 point lead at 21-7, clinching the set by nine to win the match.
Overall, there were 17 ties and nine lead changes in the match.
Canisius defeated Rider 3-1 in Lawrencevile October 11 and the Golden Griffins have now won 15 of the 18 matches all-time against the Broncs including the last eight in a row.
Canisius improved to 11-14, 8-6 in the MAAC and the Golden Griffins are currently in fifth place in the conference with the top four team qualifying for the playoffs that will be hosted at Canisius November 22-23.
The Broncs have lost nine straight.
Rider (3-21, 1-12 MAAC) continues its Western New York swing with a MAAC match at Niagara on Sunday. The Purple Eagles defeated the Broncs 3-0 on October 10 in Lawrenceville.
"We love this trip," Ahlquist said. "We have many players from around this area so we had fans rooting for us today and they will travel to Niagara tomorrow. Playing in front of your parents and fans is very encouraging and adds excitement to our matches."
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