College Volleyball
Niagara University 3, Rider University 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match
NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y.--The Rider University volleyball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match to defending conference champion Niagara on Saturday in Western, New York.
The Purple Eagles defeated Rider (1-11, 0-3 MAAC) 25-17, 25-18, 25-14.
For the Broncs, sophomore Stephanie Nagy (Muscatine, Iowa/Muscatine) had seven kills and hit .353 in the match with sophomore Haley Wilson (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) adding 15 digs.
"Haley played great for her first match at libero," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "She passed well and was compiling digs left and right. She played an inspired match and led the defense. Steph (Nagy) played a new position and did what she could and also Elyse (Grassmuck) played multiple positions as well."
Senior Elyse Grassmuck (San Antonio, Texas/La Vernia) has 11 assists with senior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) compiling nine assists and six digs for Rider.
"Some of the line up switches were due to injury and some were due to a need to give Niagara a different look," Ahlquist added.
Niagara out-hit the Broncs .269 to .053.
Rider was swept by Niagara (7-8, 2-1 MAAC) twice last season by 3-0 scores after defeating the Purple Eagles twice in 2008. The Purple Eagles travel to Lawrenceville for this year's re-match on October 17.
In the first three conference matches this season, Rider has already played two of the four teams that made the conference playoffs last season in Fairfield and now Niagara.
"It is good to have played Fairfield and Niagara right off the bat," said Ahlquist. "You know right away where you need to get to as a team instead of not knowing until the middle of October. The tough schedule will actually benefit us later in the season as we raise our level of play."
Niagara has won 13 of 19 matches all-time against the Broncs.
Rider has lost 10 straight.
The Broncs stay in Western, New York and head to Buffalo to take on Canisius College in a MAAC-match Sunday afternoon.
"We always look forward to seeing Canisius," said Ahlquist. "It is a great volleyball atmosphere and is always a good match that comes down to the wire."
-RU-
