Women's College Volleyball

Rider University 3, Iona College 2

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ—Rider defeated Iona in a come-from-behind Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory Sunday afternoon. “It was not the cleanest win but we found a way to get a win,” said Rider head coach Chris Feliciano.

The Broncs trailed two sets to one before winning 27-25 to force a fifth set.

Rider won 30-28, 22-25, 23-25, 27-25 and 15-11 to remain undefeated in MAAC play, the only undefeated team in the conference. Rider has never been 5-0 in the MAAC before. “One match at a time,” Feliciano said. “We believe in each other, we believe in our team and we believe in the process.”

For Rider (10-7, 5-0 MAAC) sophomore Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) compiled 19 kills. “The MAAC is more competitive this year but we seem to be competing really well in the MAAC contests,” said Griffin, the MAAC Rookie of the Year last season.  “I think the fact that we played a tough non-conference schedule early has really helped us.”

Senior Jaclyn Webber (Anaheim, Calif./Canyon) compiled a 'double-double' with 22 digs and 16 kills. “I don't think we played our best match today,” Webber said, “but you have to get a win any way you can.”

Freshman Emma Aldaya (Prospect Park, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) added 36 digs and sophomore Ryan Ackermann (Ashburn, Va/Stone Bridge) added 11 kills.

Iona (4-13, 1-5 MAAC) came into the match having defeated Rider four of the last five meetings.  Rider lost 3-0 and 3-1 to Iona last season.

Iona leads the all-time series 25-6. The last time Rider defeated Iona was 2012. “I think we are going to beat a lot of teams this year who we've struggled against in the past,” Webber said.

With the wins on Saturday and Sunday Rider is on a six-match winning streak and the Broncs have won eight of their last 10 matches. “Our practices have been on point,” Griffin said.  “In practice we all play like it is the last point of a match.”

The Broncs won seven straight last season.

Sunday's match was the second of a five-match home stand. The Broncs host Delaware State in a non-conference match Wednesday evening.

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