College Volleyball
Iona College 3, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.-Despite 13 kills from junior Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) and 11 kills from junior Kristy Love (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland), the Rider University volleyball team lost its 12th match in a row, falling in straight sets at Iona in a MAAC match Sunday.
Iona (11-15, 8-8 MAAC) won 25-23, 25-18, 25-23.
"The match was so close," head coach Emily Ahlquist said. "It was a battle. Both teams were diving for balls and it was really fun to watch."
Love hit .429 in the match with Thompson hitting .296. "Both our outside hitters had a great day," Ahlquist added. "Our passing and ball control was amazing."
Also for Rider (3-24, 1-15 MAAC), junior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) had 32 assists, five digs and five kills. For Piccolini, it was her second 30 plus assist effort of the weekend and eighth of the season.
Rider started fast, winning 10 of the first 13 points of the opening set with three kills by freshman Stephanie Nagy (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine). Nagy finished with five kills to go along with five blocks. A 9-4 run brought the Gaels back into the set and trailing 22-19, Iona won six of the final seven points of the set, scoring a two-point victory 25-23.
Tied at seven in the second set, Iona used an 8-2 run to open up a 15-9 lead, eventually winning the set by seven.
Set three again saw the Broncs win 10 of the first 13 points, two kills by Thompson, before the Gaels came roaring back. Trailing 16-13, Iona tied the score at 19 with a 6-3 run and with the score tied at 21, won four of the final six points to clinch the set 25-23 and the overall match 3-0.
The match featured 10 ties (including five in the final set) and four lead changes.
"We had high energy and attention to detail," Ahlquist said. "Even though the scores were similar to Saturday (25-23, 25-23, 26-24 loss to Saint Peter's), the difference between the two matches was like night and day. We just went out and played and competed."
Iona defeated Rider 3-1 in Lawrenceville on October 3 and the Gaels have won 18 of the 21 matches all-time against Rider. The Broncs last defeated Iona in 1999.
Rider travels to Baltimore for a MAAC match against Loyola Maryland on November 14 before finishing the 2009 season with a home MAAC match against Marist on November 15.
"We always have tough battles with Loyola," Ahlquist said. "And to finish at home against Marist, it will be a nice send off for our seniors."
-RU-
