PHILADELPHIA, PA – Freshman Anilee Sher (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) and senior Savannah Logan (Jupiter, FL/Benjamin) both recorded double-doubles for the second match in a row to lead the Rider University volleyball team past Kent State, 3-2, on Friday evening in non-conference action at Tom Gola Arena on day one of the La Salle Invitational.

The Broncs (3-2) defeated the Golden Flashes (5-4) in the first-ever meeting between the squads. Rider won by scores of 25-20, 25-16, 5-25, 28-30 and 15-13.

The Broncs jumped out to an early 2-0 edge with strong play. After dropping the next two frames, Rider responded in the decisive fifth game. Kent State trailed 12-9 in the fifth set and quickly cut the deficit the one with back-to-back kills. The Broncs would answer with two consecutive points thanks to an ace from sophomore Brynn Sherbert (Temecula, CA/Great Oak) and a Golden Flash attack error. Kent State would rally and make it a one-point game once again this time at 14-13 before the Broncs called a timeout. After regrouping, senior Hailey Riede (Haworth, NJ/Northern Valley-Demarest) put the match away with her seventh kill over the final two frames.

Offensively, Logan paced the Bronc attack with 12 kills, while junior Alexa Shello (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central) added nine of her own. Both Riede and freshman Delaney St. Pierre (Colorado Springs, CO/Coronado) chipped in seven kills apiece. In the middle, Sher continued her strong play with 42 assists, two kills, two aces and five block assists.

Defensively, it was a career-night for junior Rachelle Runyon (Aliso Viejo, CA/Aliso Niguel) as recorded 29 digs. Logan continued her impressive play on both sides of the ball with a career-best 17 digs, while Sher added 15 digs and Sherbert contributed 11 digs. Sophomore Danielle Blanco (El Paso, TX/Franklin) had nine digs as well.    

NOTES & QUOTES
"First and second touch really set the tone today. We focused this week on the little things and it showed. Getting our feet to the ball, resetting our defense base and the discipline helped up us with eliminating errors from our previous matches." – Rider Head Coach Chris Feliciano

"It takes a special type of person to be able to pull out a W in a match like this. You're up two sets to none and Kent State blows our doors off 25-5. Bad things can creep into you mind like panic and frustration. However, to the team's credit, like they've done so far in this young season, they remained balanced." – Feliciano

- The Broncs are 3-0 this season in five-set matches.
- Rider has won three matches in a row outside of Lawrenceville.
- Dating back to last season, the Broncs have won their last four non-conference matches that have gone to five games.
- Rider had 48 kills, 10 service aces, 46 assists and a season-best 91 digs.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Sher, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, has now dished out over 40 assists in three straight matches. She has also racked up two career double-doubles.
- Delaney St. Pierre recorded six or more kills for the third match in a row.
- Runyon recorded 20 or more digs for the second time in her career. She has recorded 14 or more digs in each of her last three appearances.
- Logan leads the team in kills this season with 58. She has registered 12 or more in three consecutive matches.
- Riede returned after missing the last two Rider matches. She played the final two sets for the Broncs.

UP NEXT
Rider closes out the La Salle Invitational with a pair of matches on Saturday, September 8. The Broncs square off with in-state foe NJIT at 12:30pm before ending the event against the host Explorers at 7:00 pm.