LOUDONVILLE, NY– The Rider University volleyball team dropped the opening set Wednesday night, but fought back to win 21-25, 25-23, 25-14, 25-18 at Siena. The Broncs improve to 7-14 overall and 6-6 in MAAC play, while the Saints fall to 2-21 on the season and 2-11 against league opponents.
 
The Broncs started slow in set one, falling behind early 5-1. Down 15-11, Rider stormed back with a 6-2 run to tie the set at 17-17. Tied 21-21, the Saints scored the set's final four points to take the set victory.
 
Rider opened set two strong. Trailing 3-1, Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) capped a 5-0 run with an ace to put Rider in front early, but the Saints countered with three quick points to tie the set. Trailing 10-9, Rider went on an 8-3 run, including two kills each from Gabby Polynice (Manhattan Beach, CA/Grant[Delaware State]) and Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston). Down 20-16, Siena went on a 6-1 run to take the lead in the set, but trailing 23-22, O'Connor served out the set capped by an ace to tie the match.
 
The Broncs opened the third on a 5-1 run, kicked off by back-to-back kills by Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)). The Saints slowly closed to within one. Up 13-11, Santiago had back-to-back kills to start a 4-0 run that extended the lead. Leading 18-14, the Broncs closed out the set on a 7-0 run on the serve of Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan)
 
Down 5-4 early in the fourth, Rider went on an 11-4 run, getting kills by five different Broncs to create separation in the set. After Siena pulled to within 22-18 late, Rider earned the final three points of the match including an ace by Giehtbrock.

QUOTES & NOTES
"Interesting win tonight. Had to use some different personnel packages after a rough start. I thought serve and pass did well and our offense was clicking at times. Both setters did a good job recognizing what was scoring and found a rhythm. One glaring area tonight was our ability to get blocks as well as our hitter's ability to avoid the block of Siena. We need to be better in both of those areas." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- The Broncs complete the season sweep, closing the gap in the all-time series to 30-18.
- For the ninth time this season, Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong[UTEP]) and Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) reached double digit assists in the same match with 25 and 19 respectively.
- Frye completed her fifth double-double of the season with 13 digs.
- Tori Schrader (Grantville, PA/Lower Dauphin) had 13 kills in the match, her third match in double figures this year.
- Santiago and Giehtbrock each added 12 kills, their ninth and sixth matches with double figures, respectively.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .221 in the match, while the Saints hit .144.
- Rider had 54 kills in the match to 40 for Siena.
- Rider had a 48-37 edge in digs.
- The Saints had a 15-3 advantage in blocks.
- In addition to Frye's 13, Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) had nine digs and Giehtbrock added seven.

UP NEXT
The Broncs hit the road for a midweek match at Siena on Wednesday. First serve is set for 6 p.m.