College Volleyball
Quinnipiac University 3, Rider University 2
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Match

LAWRENCEVILLE—The Rider University volleyball team lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match to Quinnipiac University 3-2 on Saturday afternoon in Alumni Gymnasium.

The Bobcats recovered from a 2-1 deficit to win 25-16, 25-27, 20-25, 27-25, 15-7 in a match that took two hours 24 minutes.

“I believe that our team underestimated a really improved Quinnipiac squad,” said head coach Christopher Feliciano.  “QU gave 100 percent defensively and were hitting the floor and they deserved the win.  I congratulate them on an amazing performance against our squad.”

For Rider (5-7, 0-1 MAAC), junior Veronica Koval (Allentown, PA/Parkland) had 62 assists and attacked .308 with sophomore Hailey Riede (Haworth/Northern Valley-Demarest) adding 17 kills while attacking .306.

Koval and senior Kaitlyn Griffin (Chesapeake, VA/Hickory) each had four service aces with Griffin adding 11 kills and two blocks.

The match featured 22 ties and seven lead changes, including eight ties and three lead changes in set four when Quinnipiac recovered from a five-point deficit to take the set 27-25 before taking the final set by eight points.

“Our defense didn't work hard enough,” Feliciano said.  “We stayed composed in sets two and three and came out with fire after trailing one set to none.  In set four, we got comfortable and one bad play led to a five point run and at this level, we can't have that.  We can't get that frustrated after making a mistake.”

Quinnipiac attacked .369 for the match, making only 10 errors in 160 attempts.  Rider had 28 errors in 171 attempts.

Today was the 12th meeting all-time in the series with the teams splitting the matches 6-6.

Rider hosts defending MAAC champion Fairfield University on Sunday at 1pm.

-RU-