LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University volleyball team played in front of a home crowd for the first time in nearly two years on Saturday afternoon and extended its winning streak to three, topping Saint Peter's in straight sets. The Broncs improved to 5-8 overall and 3-1 in the MAAC, while the Peacocks fall to 1-13 overall and 0-3 in league play.
 
Trailing 14-12 in the opening set, the Broncs got a kill from Jillian Chan (Watchung, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) to spark a 5-0 run on the serve of Anilee Sher (Pughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill). Sher had an ace during the run that was capped by another Chan kill. With Rider holding a 23-19 lead, the Peacocks brought the match back to 24-23 before Chan recorded another kill to clinch the set for the Broncs.
 
The Broncs never trailed in the second set. Leading 9-8, Rider won six straight on the serve of Molly Strah (Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban), including an ace and a pair of Kills by Morgan Romano (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty). Rider would go on to win the set 25-16.
 
In the third set, the Peacocks came out strong, taking a 3-0 lead. The Broncs immediately fired back with a 9-1 run, with four aces by Romano. Down 18-12, the Peacocks rallied to tie the score at 19-19, but the Broncs took six of eight points down the stretch to close out the match


QUOTES & NOTES
"We win in three and there's obviously some things we did really well, but there are some things we need be crisper at in the execution phase. We did well when we needed to, but it was tight."
 
"I thought Jordan and Nina came in and really played great today. Jordan had a ball that she really got elevation on, and Nina had three balls in a row where she got set and found a way to put that away."
 
"When I came into the gym yesterday and saw all of the bleachers pulled out, it finally felt somewhat normal. I knew it was going to be great to have friends, family, and other students around again." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"It's good to be back."
 
"I give credit to the rest of the team, obviously the back row for getting the ball up, and Nini and Sydney for giving me the opportunity to put the ball down. It's obviously nice to do well, but I credit my teammates for allowing me to do that." – Junior Opposite Morgan Romano
 
- Rider extends its advantage in the all-time series to 34-21. The Broncs have won four straight and 22 of 23 against the Peacocks.
- Sher recorded her second-straight double-double with 34 assists and 12 digs.
- Romano tied her own three-set program record with 21 kills, a feat she has accomplished twice before in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .241 in the match to the Peacocks .074. Rider had 44 total kills, to just 28 for Saint Peter's.
- In addition to Romano's 21 kills, Chan added eight and Kerrigan Casper (Webster, NY/Webster Thomas) had four.
- Nine players recorded a dig in the match, led by Sher's 12. She was matched by 12 from Pamela Loh (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson). Notarfrancesco had nine digs on the back line. Strah finished with eight digs.
- Casper led the Broncs with five blocks, giving her 22 over the last three matches.

UP NEXT
Rider continues the home stand when the Broncs host Siena next Saturday at 1 p.m.