College Volleyball
Rider University 3, Niagara University 1
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University volleyball team remained unbeaten at home with a 3-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Niagara University on Saturday afternoon.

Rider improved to 13-10, 8-1 in the MAAC with a 16-25, 25-21, 25-20, 25-21 win over the Purple Eagles.

“This was a hard fought win,” said head coach Christopher Feliciano.  “Niagara is a very good team, they are well-coached and they planned for us very well.  It wasn't pretty at times but we were able to grind it out.  It's a nice win.”

For the Broncs, sophomore Emma Aldaya (Prospect Park, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) had 17 digs and three services aces with freshman Hailey Riede (Haworth/Northern Valley-Demarest) hitting .500 with 16 kills and only one error to go along with two blocks.

“Hailey's success starts with ball control and the effort that Emma put forth led to the match that Hailey was able to have,” Feliciano said.  “When we pass well, we put the setters and attackers in good situations.  Hailey took advantage of those situations.  For Emma today, the three service aces were huge.  Without that run, we may not win the match.  That was a big momentum swing and allowed us to force the tempo.”

“I focused the second set on serving and trying to get Niagara out of system,” Aldaya said.  “It feels awesome, the start that we have had, especially with all the newcomers.  Everyone is working hard and we know what we have to do to maintain the success.”

“The season so far has been really good,” said Riede who has twice been honored by the conference with either Rookie or Player of the Week accolades.  “The match was gritty and a blue collar effort.  Everyone did their job.”

Also for Rider, junior Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) had 13 kills, five digs and two blocks with sophomore setter Veronica Koval (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) adding 25 assists and 10 digs.

Freshman McKenna Smith (Brandon, Fla./Newsome) had 12 digs for the Broncs.

Rider is now 4-0 in Alumni Gymnasium.

“We are looking to continue putting out there a product that Rider University can be proud of,” Feliciano said.  “We want to represent  our institution and athletic department with the greatest amount of integrity.”

The Broncs host Canisius College on Sunday in a MAAC match beginning at 1pm.

“We are looking to maintain the same discipline and focus of one match at a time,” Feliciano added.

The Broncs won in Lawrencevile 3-1 in 2014 and swept the season series for the second season in a row after winning at Niagara 3-1.  Niagara swept Rider in 2012, winning both conference matches 3-1.  Rider has won 11 of 29 matches all-time against the Purple Eagles including the last five straight.

-RU-