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

LAWRENCEVILLE—Led by 26 assists from sophomore setter Veronica Koval (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and 25 assists from senior setter Brandie Hill (Portland, Ore./Lincoln), the Rider University volleyball team improved to 3-0 in the MAAC with a 3-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference victory over Marist College on Saturday afternoon.

Rider (8-9, 3-0 MAAC) won 25-18, 23-25, 25-14, 25-17.

“Brandie was perfect today,” head coach Christopher Feliciano said.  “We really lean on her to get the ball to the right places.  Veronica was also very good today.  She had a few mistakes in the second set and made the corrections in set three and by the final set, she was near perfect as well.  The setters were extraordinary today.”

This was Rider's first win over the Red Foxes since 2010.

“We showed an excellent amount of character,” Feliciano added.  “We were relentless but didn't get ahead of ourselves.”

“We (this class) have never beaten Marist,” Hill said.  “It's really a great feeling.  They are a great team in the conference so the feeling is indescribable.  While we had a good match, Veronica and I can't do our job without a team effort.  Getting the ball in the right position allowed us to run the offense and the hitters putting the ball down made us look good.”

“Our passers did a phenomenal job,” said Koval.  “Nothing hit the floor without a body hitting the floor.  We bounded back from a bad loss on Wednesday and it's a great feeling.”

The Bronc offense was sparked by 13 kills from freshman Hailey Riede (Haworth/Northern Valley-Demarest), 12 kills from junior Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, Va./Hickory) and 11 kills each from junior Ryan Ackermann (Ashburn, Va./Stone Bridge) and sophomore Jennifer Borio (Ridley Park, Pa./Padua Academy).  Griffin added six digs and five service aces with Borio attacking .308.

Rider's defensive effort was keyed by sophomore Emma Aldaya (Prospect Park, Pa./Merion Mercy Academy) who had 24 digs with Ackermann adding 11 digs.

“I am really happy with the way the team played,” said Feliciano.  “You don't want to say must win this early in the season but after losing back to back matches where we led 2-0, it was important that we played well today.”

This was the 38th meeting between Rider and Marist with the Broncs winning for the 15th time.  The Red Foxes swept Rider last season.

This is the second season in a row that Rider has begun conference play 3-0.  The Broncs are now 2-0 in Alumni Gym this season and have won 11 of their last 14 matches in the Broncs' Zoo.

Rider hosts Siena on Sunday in a MAAC match, beginning at 1pm.

“This is an exciting and determined group that has great character,” Feliciano added.

-RU-