Box Score PROVO, UT – The Rider University volleyball team took the opening set off of ACC opponent Duke University Saturday evening, before eventually falling in four sets to close out competition at the dōTERRA Classic. The Broncs fall to 0-3 on the season, while the Blue Devils secure their first win of the season, moving to 1-2.
 
In a first set that featured nine ties, Duke began to pull away midway through the set. Rider would fight back after trailing 22-16, the Broncs went on a 9-1 run, briefly tying the set at 23-23 before winning the final two points of the set to secure the win.
 
The second set swung back and forth. Duke scored six-straight points to build a 9-4, but the Broncs countered with a 6-1 run that tied the set at 11-11. Trailing 14-13, the Blue Devils pulled away using a 10-2 run to take control of the set and even the match.
 
The third set was close again, with the teams tied seven times through 12-12. Leading 17-16, Duke again pulled away, scoring the final eight points in the set to take control of the match.
 
Duke was dominant in the fourth, quickly building a 13-4 lead. Rider came back with five-straight points on the serve of Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West), but Duke answered with a 5-0 run of their own, and the Broncs would never recover.

QUOTES & NOTES
"After a less than stellar performance against a very good Washington State team, we are very proud of the response today against Duke. We fought back in a great first set, and almost went up 2-0 on a team that is long and athletic."
 
"Morgan Romano was great, and Nina Blount and Carley McAleavey both played great in the middle. We also got solid contributions from everyone, Tori, Jenna, Pam, and Brynn. In addition, our bench energy was great throughout the match. Lots to build on as we head back and prep for next week. Julia and Sydney are really starting to get a grasp of the offense and the tempo we want to establish. Defensively, we saw great effort from them, with making some incredible defensive plays."
 
"Finally, a huge congrats to freshman Carley McAleavey for receiving All-Tournament team recognition." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Today's match was the first ever between the Broncs and the Blue Devils.
- Julia Slivka (Adamstown, MD/Tuscarora) set a career-high with 20 assists.
- Pamela Loh (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Hendrick Hudson) had the Broncs first double-digit dig match of the season with a team-high 10.
- Morgan Romano (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty) led the Broncs with the team's first double-digit kill match of the season, finishing with 11 on .333 hitting.
- McAleavey earned All-Tournament Team recognition.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .130 in the match, to Duke's .333.
- Duke had 56 kills to 40 for the Broncs.
- The Blue Devils held a 51-45 advantage in the match in digs.
- Duke had nine aces to six for Rider.
- In addition to Slivka's 20 assists, Loh and Sydney Bond (Homestead, FL/Westminster Christian) each had seven.
- Slivka finished one dig shy of a double-double with nine. Molly Strah (Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban) added in seven.
- In addition to Romano's 11, Christina Blount (Liberty Township, OH/Lakota East) had seven kills and Jenna Amaro (Davie, FL/Archbishop McCarthy) finished with six.

UP NEXT
Rider travels to Lehigh for the Steel Classic Tournament beginning with matches against Buffalo and Cleveland State Friday and the host Mountain Hawks on Saturday.