College Volleyball – 13th Rose Hill Classic
Northeastern University 3, Rider University 1
Rider University 3, Fordham University 2

BRONX, N.Y.—The Rider University volleyball team survived a furious comeback by host Fordham University, holding off the Rams 3-2 on Friday evening to split two matches on day one of the 13th annual Rose Hill Classic.

For the Broncs in the Bronx, Rider won the Fordham match 25-17, 25-22, 21-25, 23-25, 15-12 in a match that took 2:14.

“We eased off the gas and got out of system by set two,” said head coach Christopher Feliciano.  “We made undisciplined errors by the fourth set but to the team's credit, the players rallied, pulled themselves together and earned a hard fought win.  This was a character building win, especially only committing two errors in the final set.”

In the opener, Rider (1-4) lost in four sets to Northeastern 25-20, 25-17, 22-25, 25-22.

In the nightcap against Fordham, senior Jaclyn Webber (Anaheim, Calif./Canyon)had her second monster match of the tournament, compiling 20 digs and 18 kills with senior Ashlee Amatulli (Menifee, Calif./Temecula Valley) adding 27 assists and 12 digs.

“Jaclyn, in my humble opinion had the best two matches of her career at Rider,” said Feliciano.  “I said earlier that we needed to bounce back after losing to a tough Northeastern team and we did.  Fordham was one of the schools that she was recruited to go and she played with a bit of a chip on her shoulder.  Jaclyn makes everyone around her better.  She was outstanding.”

Against Northeastern Webber had 17 of Rider's 38 kills and she added 16 digs with Amatulli scoring 18 assists to go along with 10 digs.

Freshman Veronica Koval (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) had a solid day for Rider with 28 assists in the two matches.

“I thought Veronica was phenomenal coming off the bench,” Feliciano added.  “We have some depth and versatility and we needed that after playing nine sets in the span of a few hours.  We have great senior leadership and versatility and by having that, competition breeds improvement.”

Rider and Fordham last met in August, 2011 when the Rams won in five sets at the Terrier Invitational, hosted by Saint Francis Brooklyn.

The Broncs opened the season last weekend in California, losing to fifth ranked Southern California, Pacific and Arkansas Little Rock who is favored to win the Sun Belt Conference.

Rider competes against Fairleigh Dickinson on Saturday morning.

“We are going to grab some rest and go after the match on Saturday,” Feliciano added.  FDU defeated Fordham and also took a set from Northern so they are going to be a tough opponent.”

The Broncs open the home schedule on September 10 in Alumni Gymnasium at 7pm, also against FDU.

-RU-