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

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University volleyball team won the opening set before losing a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match to Fairfield University on Sunday afternoon in Alumni Gymnasium.

The Stags won 19-25, 25-20, 25-22, 25-22 in a match that featured 32 ties and nine lead changes.

“We had players lay it all out on the floor but we still have challenges to get over,” said head coach Christopher Feliciano.  “We need to play with more discipline, that's the bottom line.”

For Rider (16-14, 11-5 MAAC), sophomore Jennifer Borio (Ridley Park, Pa./Padua Academy) recorded 10 kills and attacked .310 with sophomore Emma Aldaya (Prospect Park, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) adding 21 digs.

“Emma had a phenomenal match,” Feliciano said.  “But we can't expect her to cover the entire floor.”

Junior Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) had 14 kills, seven blocks, five digs and two service aces with junior Ryan Ackermann (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) and freshman Hailey Riede (Haworth/Northern Valley-Demarest) each adding 11 kills.

Sophomore setter Veronica Koval (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) had 23 assists and 13 digs with senior Brandie Hill (Portland, Ore./Lincoln) adding 17 assists.

Hill and senior Nicole Moorman (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area HS) were honored prior to the match as it was senior day.

Rider and Fairfield split the series with Rider winning 3-1 in Connecticut on October 4.

“I'm glad we had this type of match,” Feliciano added.  “The team got to see what it is going to take to contend.  We need to understand the next step.  There is a reason Fairfield has had success for 20 consecutive years.  They play with discipline and the result is that they beat us.  The scores were really tight from two really good teams.”

Rider makes its annual Western New York trip, facing Canisius on November 14 and Niagara November 15 to complete the regular season schedule.

“We want to win both matches,” Feliciano said about the end of the season.  “We want to put ourselves in a good situation heading into the playoffs.  We still have an opportunity to finish in the top two in the standings and get a first round bye.”

The MAAC playoffs are November 20-22 at Siena College.  Rider has qualified for the conference playoffs for the first since the 2004 season.