College Volleyball
Rider University 3, Fairleigh Dickinson University 0
13th Rose Hill Classic
Webber/Aldaya All-Tournament

BRONX, N.Y.—The Rider University volleyball team won its second match in a row and took two of three matches over the weekend, placing second after a 3-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University on Saturday morning at the 13th annual Rose Hill Classic, hosted by Fordham University.

Rider defeated the Knights 25-19, 29-27, 25-20 in a match that saw 37 ties and 16 lead changes.  FDU had two match points in the second set but the Broncs were able to rally.

“We didn't execute what we needed to do in set two but we were able to recover,” said head coach Christopher Feliciano.  “The score got closer and the game got tighter but a win is a win.  “Winning two out of three matches and finishing runner-up puts us in a good place.”

For Rider, freshman Emma Aldaya (Prospect Park, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) had 21 digs and six assists with senior Jaclyn Webber (Anaheim, Calif./Canyon) compiling 19 kills and 17 digs for her third 'double-double' of the tournament.  Webber hit .356 for the match.

Both Aldaya and Webber were named to the all-tournament team in voting by the four head coaches.  Aldaya had 61 digs in the three matches (Northeastern, Fordham, Fairleigh Dickinson) and Webber compiled 54 kills and 53 digs.

For Webber it was the second all-tournament honor of her career.  In September, 2011 as a Rider rookie, Webber was recognized for her play at the Liberty Invitational in Lynchburg, Virginia.

“We expect that kind of performance from Jaclyn every match,” Feliciano said about her play this past weekend.  “She has that kind of ability.  And Emma, she is giving us much needed depth and versatility and her court coverage was phenominal this weekend.  She was around eight or nine digs a set, numbers that we haven't seen in my four years at Rider.  Having both of them in the back row together, it is difficult to score against us.”

Also for Rider (2-4), sophomore Ryan Ackermann (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) had 13 digs, 10 kills and two blocks with senior Ashlee Amatulli (Menifee, Calif./Temecula Valley) compiling 25 assists and five digs.

Amatulli is fourth on Rider's all-time assist list with 2,153.

Junior Brandie Hill (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) also had a solid match, with 16 assists and seven digs and sophomore Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory), the reigning Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, had six blocks.

“The whole team played well,” Feliciano said.  “Competition breeds improvement.  We've had multiple lineups and they are constantly pushing each other.  I'm impressed by everyone on the team for that effort.”

Rider improved to 26-17 all-time against FDU.  The teams met twice in 2013, both 3-0 Bronc wins, at FDU and at the Bucknell Invitational.  Rider defeated the Knights at home in 2012 by a 3-2 score.

Rider travels to La Salle University Tuesday night before the home opener on Wednesday at 7pm in Alumni Gymnasium against FDU.

“La Salle is going to be a tough match but we will be ready,” Feliciano added.

-RU-