College Volleyball
Niagara University 3, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y.--Despite 16 assists from junior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville), the Rider University volleyball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match at Niagara Sunday afternoon. "The match went ok," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "We battled through some illness and the team played as hard as it could."
The Purple Eagles defeated the Broncs 25-23, 25-15, 25-15.
In the first set, Rider (3-22, 1-13 MAAC) battled back from an early 13-7 deficit off three Niagara attack errors and a service ace by senior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's) to get within two at 13-11. Trailing 22-15, the Broncs again battled back, using a 7-1 run, two kills by junior Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland) to get to within one (24-23) before Niagara used a Bronc attack error to clinch the set by two. Love had four kills in the match.
"We didn't put the ball away when we needed to," Ahlquist said about the missed opportunity of the first set. "We made some errors at inopportune times. It was just a dreary match, that's how we played."
Trailing 2-1 in the second set, Niagara won 10 of the next 11 points to open up a nine point lead, eventually winning the set by 10.
The Purple Eagles jumped up 11-5 in the third set and cruised to a 10-point win to clinch the match.
"Elyse Grassmuck played well for us filling in at the libero position," Ahlquist said. She did really well. She is versatile and can play many positions. She is very athletic." The junior from San Antonio, Texas (La Vernia) finished with five digs.
Niagara (19-7, 12-3 MAAC), which clinched a MAAC playoff berth with its school record 19th win, defeated Rider 3-0 on October 10 in Lawrenceville. Rider has won six of the 18 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 10 in a row.
Rider hosts Saint Peter's on November 7 in a MAAC match at 1:00pm.
-RU-
