College Volleyball
Loyola University (Md.) 3, Rider University 1
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
Jeary - Rider record holder for digs
LAWRENCEVILLE-Despite 22 digs from senior Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary's), the Rider University volleyball team lost in four sets to Loyola University Maryland in a Metro Atlantic Athletic match Saturday afternoon.
The Greyhounds won 21-25, 25-20, 25-15, 25-17.
"When we executed, we did fabulously," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "Our ball control went a little astray and because of that, we couldn't execute our game plan fully."
Jeary is now the modern day (since 1991) Rider record holder for career digs with 1,597, breaking the mark set by Evette Hoeffner who compiled 1,575 digs from 1998-2001.
"Amy has been a consistent defensive player for us," said Ahlquist. "She has come into her realm, knowing her role and executing her role. We are happy for her."
Also for Rider (2-12, 0-3 MAAC), junior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) had 19 assists and 11 digs, along with three kills and two blocks.
"Amanda plays a steady game," Ahlquist said. "She added calmness to what we were doing. The attackers knew where she was going to set the ball. She gave us stability on the floor."
Senior Brittany Hayes (Mitchellville, Md./Elizabeth Seton) added seven kills and six blocks for the Broncs.
"We had a lot of errors," Ahlquist said referring to 15 service mistakes. "Some of it was forced by Loyola (eight reception errors) and some of which we did to ourselves."
The Broncs came out strong to open the match, scoring eight of the first 12 points, led by four kills from junior Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills). Thompson finished with seven kills, four digs and two blocks in the match.
Loyola tied the set at 11 with a 7-3 run before the Broncs retook the lead (19-14) with a 6-0 run, including three Greyhound errors off five Jeary serves.
The Greyhounds cut the Bronc lead to 19-18 before two kills by Hayes clinched the set.
Loyola led wire to wire in the second set, scoring eight of the first 11 points. Three attack errors by the Greyhounds brought Rider to within one at 10-9 before the 'Hounds scored nine of the next 13 points to pull away.
The Greyhounds led 9-8 in the third set and went on a 9-1 run to open up a nine point lead (18-9), eventually winning the set by 10.
Set four started out all Loyola as the 'Hounds jumped up 7-0 before the Broncs rallied to take a 9-8 lead with a 9-1 run of their own off four Greyhound attack errors and two kills by Hayes.
Trailing 14-11, Loyola went on an 11-2 run to re-take the lead 22-16, eventually clinching the match with an eight point win in the set.
The 'Hounds lead the all-time series 21-7 with the last Bronc win coming during the 2001 season.
Rider has lost five straight and 10 of 11 matches.
The Broncs host perennial conference power Fairfield in a MAAC match on Sunday at 2:00pm in the Student Recreation Center, adjacent to Alumni Gym on the Lawrenceville campus.
"Fairfield is a very solid team," Ahlquist said. "They do everything well. We love playing them. We always have good matches with them and usually raise the bar when we face them. We are looking forward to the match."
The Stags defeated Marist 3-1 on Friday night, improving to 3-0 in the MAAC.
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