College Volleyball
Rider University 3, Canisius College 0
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match

BUFFALO, N.Y.—The Rider University volleyball team won its fourth match in a row, defeating Canisius College 3-0 on Sunday afternoon in Buffalo, New York.

“I thought we played with a lot of poise,” said head coach Christopher Feliciano.  “We were good from the start and kept the crowd out of the match.  We served tough and passed well.”

Rider improved to 3-0 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and 8-7 on the season with a 25-20, 25-19, 25-19 win over the Golden Griffins (2-11, 2-2 MAAC).

For the Broncs sophomore Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) had 15 kills and three blocks, hitting .682 with freshman Jennifer Borio (Ridley Park, Pa./Padua Academy) compiling nine kills while hitting .643.

“We hit very well,” Feliciano said.  “We won the one on one battles.  We hit smart and the outside hitters especially did a good job passing and playing defense.  We put the pressure on Canisius to make plays.”

Rider's setters again stole the show with junior Brandie Hill (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) compiling 21 assists and senior Ashlee Amatulli (Menifee, Calif./Temecula Valley) adding 18 assists.

“Kudos to the setters,”  Feliciano said.  “And Griffin and Borio, they were especially notable for their efforts.  Absolutely outstanding efforts all around.  When you pass the ball like we did, it creates one on one situations and when that happens, we will do well.  It is crucial to be able to side out and finish off points quickly.  That saves stamina, energy and keeps the momentum.”

Freshman Emma Aldaya (Prospect Park, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) led the team with 11 digs and had three of Rider's four service aces in the match.

Tied 19-19 in the opening set, Rider used four attack errors by Canisius and a Griffin kill to win the first set 25-20 on the strength of a 6-1 run.

Leading 8-7 in the second set, a 6-0 run by the Broncs was led by two kills from Griffin and two aces from Aldaya as Rider pushed the lead to 14-7 in the eventual 25-19 decision.

Trailing 15-13 in the third set, three attack errors by Canisius and two kills by Borio helped the Broncs to a 21-15 lead as Rider went on an 8-2 run in the 25-19 deciding frame.

As a team, Rider had a season-high .353 attack percentage.

Rider and Canisius met twice last season with the Golden Griffins winning 3-0 in Buffalo and 3-1 in Lawrenceville.  Rider is now 4-23 all-time against Canisius with the Broncs snapping the Golden Griffins 16-match winning streak in the series.  The Broncs last defeated the Golden Griffins (3-2) on November 11, 2005, also in Buffalo.

“Learning to win on the road is a testament to the seniors,” Feliciano added.  “Passing that preparation and knowledge down, that helps build a program and shows how things need to be done.  This is a tough conference to win matches on the road.”

Canisius travels to Rider on November 1.

This is the first time in Rider's 18 seasons in the MAAC that the Broncs won both matches on the Western, New York trip.  The Broncs won at Niagara 3-1 on September 27.

Rider begins a five-match home stand, hosting MAAC-rival Manhattan College on October 4 at 1:00pm in Alumni Gymnasium.

“Expecting to win is part of the maturity process,” Feliciano said.  “We'll enjoy this but then it is time to get back to work and begin to get ready for two qualify conference opponents this coming weekend.”

-RU-