College Volleyball
Temple University 3, Rider University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE--On a night where many are going to temple to observe Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, Temple came to Rider University for a six o'clock volleyball match and swept the Broncs 3-0 Wednesday night in the 2010 home opener.
"We played smart and had pretty good ball control," said head coach Emily Ahlquist. "Every time we've stepped on the court, we have gotten better."
The Owls won 25-19, 25-23, 25-18.
For Rider (1-4), senior Amanda Piccolini (St. Clairsville, Ohio/St. Clairsville) had 20 assists with senior Elyse Grassmuck adding 11 digs. "Amanda worked within the attackers and ran the offense well," said Ahlquist. "and Elyse is learning a new position but is gaining confidence. Both have made improvement since the opening match of the season."
Fresh off an all-tournament performance in Arizona at NAU's Fiesta Bowl Tournament, senior Katelyn Thompson (Tucson, Ariz./Catalina Foothills) had nine digs and eight kills for the Broncs with sophomore Haley Wilson (Williamsburg, Iowa/Williamsburg) adding eight digs and three service aces.
"Katelyn is playing very smart and is gaining confidence," Ahlquist said. "She is taking every opportunity to play well and play hard since this is her senior year."
Tied at 13 in the opening set, Temple (2-4) scored four of the next five points to open up a three point lead. After Rider got to within 19-18 on an Owl attack error, Temple responded with a 6-1 run to end the set.
Rider opened the second set on a 3-0 run on a Piccolini kill and two Owl errors before Temple won the next three points to tie the set. The teams traded points through out the set and tied at 23, Temple won the final two points to go up two sets to none. There were 29 ties and 12 lead changes in the match, 16 ties in the second set.
"The match was very close," Ahlquist added. "We said for the preconference matches that we were going to learn to play with the big girls and we hung right in there with an Atlantic 10 school. Temple was better on one or two more plays, it was that close."
Another player who played well but flew under the radar stat wise was sophomore Briana Wallace (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa). "Briana brought positive energy when she stepped onto the floor," said Ahlquist. "She is one of many who can come off the bench and bring stability to the lineup."
Tied at four in the third set, Temple used two of its 11 service aces in the match to build a 7-4 lead. The Broncs got to within 10-8 before Temple won three points in a row to build a 13-8 lead. Rider cut the Owl lead to 21-18 but could get no closer as Temple ended the set and clinched the match with a 4-0 run on two kills and a service ace.
Rider is now 0-8 against Temple in a series that started in 1987. The teams last met during the 2007 season in Philadelphia with the Owls winning 3-0.
The Broncs travel to the Bronx, New York for Fordham's Rose Hill Classic September 10-11, against Stony Brook, Harvard, Syracuse and the host Rams.
"We have four matches in 36 hours and that is going to be hard," Ahlquist said. "We are going to have to utilize everyone to get through the weekend."
Rider returns home for a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match against Manhattan on September 18 at 2:00pm in Alumni Gym on the Lawrenceville campus.
"We love playing at home," Ahlquist added about the vocal support that Rider received tonight. "With the first day of school, the crowd was very good. It is a home court advantage and they give us positive energy. We need their support and are grateful that they came out tonight. The crowd was behind us and gave us a little extra push."
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