LOUDONVILLE, NY – The Rider University volleyball team advanced to the semifinals of the MAAC Tournament, defeating Iona in four sets in the quarterfinals Friday evening. The Broncs improved to 18-11 on the season, while the Gaels close out the year at 10-8.
 
The Broncs started the match slow, but Morgan Romano (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty) carried the Broncs through the opening set, recording eight kills. Tied 18-18, Romano had three kills during a 4-2 run as the Broncs would go on to take the set 25-22.
 
The Gaels even the match in the second. Leading 9-8, Iona scored three-straight points to extend the lead to four. The Gaels extended the lead as large as eight, winning the set 25-17.
 
The Broncs settled in during the third set. Tori Schrader (Grantville, PA/Lower Dauphin) came alive with seven kills and two blocks as Rider took control of the match. Leading 5-4, Schrader had a block and two kills during a 4-0 as Rider began to pull away. Leading 16-12, it was another 4-0 run with a pair of Schrader kills that essentially wrapped up the set.
 
The momentum carried over into the fourth as Rider jumped out to a 4-2 lead. Tied 6-6, Rider scored three-straight to take a lead it would not relinquish. Iona fought to within 11-10, but a 6-1 run ended any thoughts of a comeback.

QUOTES & NOTES
"First, credit to Iona and Esai. I knew this was not going to be an easy one. We were shaky in sets one and two and were fortunate to be 1-1. After that, the team did a good job of settling nerves and going for it."
 
"Really proud of Tori and Jill, who turned it around after set two. [Morgan] and [Anilee] did what they do, and our defenders Pam, Molly, Emma, and Jenna made it difficult for Iona's offense to find the floor."
 
"We need to rest up and prepare for tomorrow. It's going to be a late night, but we wouldn't have it any other way." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Rider has now won six-straight over Iona, as the Broncs continue to whittle away at the Gael's lead in the all-time series, which now stands at 28-17.
- Romano tied a season-high with 26 kills, her third-straight match hitting that mark.
- Anilee Sher (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) had her fourth-straight double-double with 52 assists and 14 digs.


BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .219 in the match to the Gaels .166. Rider had 58 total kills, to 47 for Iona.
- Rider had 10 blocks in the match, while Iona had seven.
- Rider out-dug Iona 73-68.
- Romano led the Broncs with her 26 kills. Jillian Chan (Watchung, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) and Schrader also reached double figures with 13 and 11 respectively.
- Nine players recorded a dig in the match, led by 15 from Romano. Molly Strah (Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban) finished one off a career-high with 14. Sher and Pamela Loh (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) also recorded 14 digs in the match. Jenna Amaro (Davie, FL/Archbishop McCarthy) added eight digs.
- Schrader led Rider with six blocks. Caprice Clarke (Toronto, Canada/Blyth Academy[Yorkville]) had five and Kerrigan Casper (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) had four.

UP NEXT
Rider faces the winner of the match between Marist and Quinnipiac in the semifinals on Saturday at 7:00 p.m.