JERSEY CITY, NJ – The Rider University volleyball team had strong performances, defeating Saint Peter's in four sets Saturday afternoon. The Broncs improve to 7-15 overall and 5-7 in MAAC play. The Peacocks fall to 1-24 overall and 1-11 in league play.
Rider was dominant in the first set. Leading 7-6, the Broncs went on an 11-0 run on the serve of Julia Slivka (Adamstown, MD/Tuscarora), including four blocks from Morgan Koch (Bloomington, IL/Central Catholic) and the Broncs never looked back winning the set 25-13.
The Broncs jumped out to a 6-2 lead in set two, but Saint Peter's responded to tie the match at 6-6. Tied 12-12, Rider went on a 4-0 run with a pair of kills by Tori Schrader (Grantville, PA/Lower Dauphin) to take back the lead. Saint Peter's immediately responded with a 5-0 run to take the lead back. Down 21-20, the Peacocks scored three-straight and four-straight sideouts later, the Peacocks won the set 25-23.
Rider began to pull away midway through set three, using a 6-1 run to go ahead 13-9. The Broncs continued to pull away, taking the set 25-20.
In the fourth, the Broncs jumped out to an early advantage. Leading 8-6, Rider went on a 4-0 run during the serve of Alicia Iafrate (Closter, NJ/Demarest), including a pair of kills by Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/River Falls). Down 21-17, the Peacocks scored three-straight points to cut the lead to just one. But following a timeout by the Broncs, Rider got four-straight kills to close out the match.
QUOTES & NOTES
"A case of good and bad this match. We would have liked to follow up the win at Iona with a clean and spirited match today. Sets two and four were higher error than we would have like, with Saint Peter's winning set two because of it. Energy and execution were really good in set one."
"Tori had a great match, Romano went for 22 and was efficient as well. Nicole stepped in and played well in a few sets. Our defensive players all played great in Alicia, Molly, and Pam."
"We need to block and defend better as a whole. Saint Peter's should not side out above 50% on us. But we got a win, and now we need to keep it rolling into next weekend." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
- Rider now leads the all-time series 37-21 after winning both meetings in four sets this season.
- Schrader had a career-high 19 kills, her fourth time in double figures this year.
- Iafrate led the Broncs with 24 digs, her second-straight match with over 20 digs and fifth match in double figures this season.
- Romano posted her sixth double-double of the season with 11 kills and a season-high 21 digs.
- Slivka had a career-high 32 assists and added 11 digs for her sixth double-double of the year.
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Rider hit .207 in the match to the Peacocks' .108.
- Rider had 63 kills in the match to just 38 for Saint Peter's.
- Koch led the Broncs with seven blocks.
UP NEXT
Rider if off until next Saturday when the Broncs take on Marist in Poughkeepsie. Match time is set for 6 p.m.
