College Volleyball
Rider University 3, Manhattan College 2
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University volleyball won its fifth match in a row and remained unbeaten in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a hard fought five-set win against Manhattan College on Saturday afternoon in Alumni Gymnasium.

Rider (9-7, 4-0 MAAC) won 25-18, 17-25, 25-20, 18-25, 15-11 in a match that took two hours and five minutes to complete and featured 18 ties and six lead changes.

“We didn't play our best match but out of all our wins, this may be the favorite,” said head coach Christopher Feliciano.  “It is a testament to the mental fortitude when you are back and forth and able to pull out the match.  I'm in awe of how the team has grown and how they are working together.”

For the Broncs, freshman Jennifer Borio (Ridley Park, Pa./Oadua Academy) had 16 kills and hit .432 while adding two blocks.

“All the setters put me in great positions to score,” Borio said.  “The defense was strong as well.  It was a team effort.”

Also for Rider, junior Ashlee Amatulli (Menifee, Calif./Temecula Valley) had 27 assists and 16 digs with senior Kayla Wong (Tustin, Calif./Arnold O. Beckman) adding 12 kills and two blocks.

“Both Jennifer and Kayla got timely touches on the block,” Feliciano said.  “Kayla is a senior and she saved her best season for this year.  “She has been outstanding and phenomenal for us.  She hit smart and for power and was in the middle of some big points for us.”

“The match was awesome,” Wong said.  “The team really worked together.  Winning four in conference play isn't enough though.  We want to keep working hard and keep fighting and charge forward.” 

Senior Jaclyn Webber (Anaheim, Calif./Canyon) also had a 'double-double' for the Broncs with 16 digs and 14 kills, sophomore Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) compiled 14 kills while hitting .314 and junior Brandie Hill (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) had 29 assists and 10 digs.

Rider out-hit the Jaspers .261 to .234.

Last season, Rider defeated Manhattan 3-2 in Riverdale, New York before losing to the Jaspers 3-1 in Lawrenceville.  The teams also split two MAAC matches in 2012.

The teams meet again in Riverdale, New York on November 5.

The Broncs are 3-0 in Alumni Gym this season.  “I love playing at home and in front of our fans,” Borio added.  “It was a great atmosphere.”

“I want to thank the fans for coming to the match,” Feliciano added.  “When we needed that extra push our fans were behind us.  If not for them, we don't win the match.”

This is the first time in Rider's 18 seasons in the MAAC that the Broncs have opened conference play with four straight wins.

“Being undefeated in conference play really brings credibility to the work we are doing in practice,” Feliciano added.

This is Rider's longest winning streak since winning seven matches in a row during the early part of the 2013 campaign.

The Broncs host Iona on Sunday afternoon.

“Iona plays us well,” Feliciano said.  “We are going to have to play a cleaner match to compete with them.”

After this weekend, Rider is scheduled to host Delaware State (October 8, 7pm), Fairfield University (October 11, 1pm) and Quinnipiac University (October 12, 1pm), completing a five-match home stand before hitting the road for four straight matches.

-RU-