KINGSTON, RI – The Rider University volleyball team finished play at the University of Rhode Island Tournament on Saturday, earning back-to-back victories and needing only three sets to top both Merrimack and Hartford. This wins improve the Broncs record to 2-7 on the season.
 
In the opening match against Merrimack, the Broncs got an 8-0 run midway through the first set, including five aces from Anilee Sher (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) to take the early lead. The Broncs were dominant again in the second as the Broncs used a 6-0 run to take a 12-7 lead, capped by back-to-back kills from Tori Schrader (Grantville, PA/Lower Dauphin). The Broncs saw big performances off the bench as Jordan Taylor (Wellington, FL/Wellington) and Christina Blount (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) both came in and had four kills in the third set to seal the victory.
 
Against Hartford, the Broncs took six-straight points to build an 8-4 lead in the first set they would not relinquish. Leading 14-9 in set two, Morgan Romano (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty) served six straight points for Rider, including an ace to secure the second set victory. The Broncs put the match away in set three, as Romano against served for a 6-0 Rider run to take control of the third.


QUOTES & NOTES
"We took care of the ball today and were able to put pressure on the other team's offensively. We got some big contributions from Tori, Jillian, Romano, and Emma."
 
"Pam was locked in on defense and it was great to see our block and defense gel together and hold Hartford to a negative hitting percentage."
 
"Good things to build on as we open up with a very difficult conference weekend." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Today's match was the first ever against Merrimack. The Broncs evened the all-time series with Hartford at 3-3.
- Sher had eight aces against Merrimack, a career-high and three-set program record.
- With 72 total assists today, Sher has 3,040 career assists. She passed Kathy Thompson for second in program history.
- Romano had her third double-double of the season with 18 kills and 10 digs against Merrimack.
- Romano and Schrader were named to the All-Tournament Team.
- Pamela Loh (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) has recorded double-digit digs in eight on nine matches this season.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs out-hit Merrimack .378 to .101 and Rider had 45 kills to just 21 for the Warriors.
- Rider out-hit Hartford .370 to -.048 and produced 40 kills to 17 for the Hawks.
- Rider had 14 aces in the match against Merrimack and five against Hartford.
- In addition to Romano's 18, Schrader finished the Merrimack match with double-figure kills, totaling 12.
- Loh matched Romano's 10 digs against the Warriors.
- Schrader led the Broncs with 12 kills against the Hawks. Jillian Chan (Watchung, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional)
- Loh had 12 digs with Romano adding 11 against Hartford.

UP NEXT
- Rider opens MAAC play against the pre-season conference favorite, Fairfield, with a trip to Connecticut for a match Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.