NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY – The Rider University volleyball team fell in straight sets Saturday afternoon, dropping the first leg of the Buffalo trip to Niagara. The Broncs fall to 4-12 overall and 2-4 in MAAC play, while the Purple Eagles improve to 5-12 on the season and 3-4 in league play.
 
Down 9-8 in the first, Rider scored five-straight points, including a pair of kills by Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West). The Purple Eagles had an immediate response, countering with a 7-1 rally to take a 16-14 lead. The set remained tight, until the Purple Eagles held a 22-21 lead, and closed out the set with three-straight points.
 
Set two was all Niagara's. Leading 8-7, the Purple Eagles pulled away with a 7-0 run. Later in the set, leading 16-11, Niagara added an 8-0 run, going on to win the set 25-13.
 
Rider seemed on track to right the ship in the third. Leading 6-5, the Broncs scored five-straight on the serve of Molly Strah (Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban). The Purple Eagles would fight back. Down 12-6, Niagara scored five-straight to cut the deficit to just one. Leading 16-15, the Broncs again scored five-straight, aided by a pair of kills from Jordan Taylor (Wellington, FL/Wellington). With Rider up 23-19, Niagara scored four-straight to tie the score. After ties at 24-24, 25-25, and 26-26, Niagara got back-to-back points to take the match.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
- Niagara extends its lead in the all-time series to 25-16.
- Kianny Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) had a career-high 14 digs to lead the Broncs.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .089 in the match, to Niagara's .196.
- Rider had just 30 kills to 46 for the Purple Eagles.
- Niagara had 64 digs to 58 for the Broncs.
- Christina Blount (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) led the Broncs with six kills.
- Sydney Bond (Homestead, FL/Westminster Christian) led the Broncs with 15 assists in the match.

UP NEXT
Rider completes the Buffalo trip against Canisius on Sunday. First serve is at 12 p.m.