Women's College Volleyball

Rider University 3, Siena College 2

LOUDONVILLE, NY— Comeback.

In the 2016 NBA finals it was the Cavaliers over the Warriors. In the 2004 ALCS it was the Red Sox over the Yankees. And on Sunday, it was the Rider Broncs over the Siena Saints.

The Broncs came all the way back from an 0-2 deficit to defeat Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Sunday afternoon.

“This has got to be one of the best comebacks in Rider history,” said Rider head coach Chris Feliciano.

It was the first time Rider came back from an 0-2 deficit to win since August of 2012, a 3-2 win over St. Francis-NY.

It was also the first time Rider won at Siena.

The Broncs dropped the first two sets 23-25, 23-25 before coming back to win the last three 25-23, 25-14 and 16-14. “They cut the lead to 15-14 but I told the team to stay calm, stay engaged, and they did,” Feliciano said.

For Rider (9-11, 3-5 MAAC) sophomore Hailey Riede (Haworth/Northern Valley-Demarest) had 18 kills.  “Hailey had an amazing match,” Feliciano said.

Senior Ryan Ackermann (Ashburn, VA/Stone Bridge) had 10 kills and 16 digs,  junior  Veronica Koval (Allentown, PA/Parkland) compiled 37 assists and freshman Devyn Holland (Corona, CA/Santiago) had 15 assists.

“Our setters did a phenomenal job,” Feliciano, “putting our hitters in good situations.”

Junior Emma Aldaya (Prospect Park, PA/Merion Mercy Academy) had 29 digs and graduate student Briana Guzman (North Bergen/Science Park) had 11 kills. “Briana had a great match,” Feliciano.

Last year Rider defeated Siena 3-2 in Lawrenceville but lost 3-0 at Siena.

Siena (5-14, 4-5 MAAC) leads the all-time series 27-5. “We've never won at Siena,” Feliciano said.

Sunday's match was Rider's sixth in a row on the road, splitting the decisions 3-3. “If you told me we'd go 3-3 on this road stretch I would have been a bit skeptical,” Feliciano.  “But we did what we needed to do.”

Rider hosts Manhattan Saturday at 1pm. “It will be very nice to get back home,” Feliciano said.

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