LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ– The Rider University volleyball team dropped a three set match, 25-23, 25-15, 25-22 Saturday night in Alumni Gym to Manhattan. The Broncs fall to 7-15 overall and 6-7 in MAAC play, while the Jaspers move to 8-17 on the season and 5-8 against league opponents.
 
Down 7-5 in set one, the Broncs scored four-straight points, including a pair of blocks by Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville). With Rider leading 16-14, the Jaspers went on a 4-0 run to take the lead, then with Rider ahead 19-18, the Jaspers scored three-straight points and would not trail again in the set.
 
The Jaspers slowly built the lead in set two, going up 16-8 despite not having a single run of more than three-straight points. Up 21-15, Manhattan scored four-straight points to wrap up the set.
 
Down 13-9 in set three, the Broncs fought back with four-straight points, including an ace by Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford). Trailing 20-18, Rider scored three-straight points capped by an ace from Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong[UTEP]), but the Jaspers scored five of the set's final six points to win the match.

QUOTES & NOTES
"A bit of a roller coaster. I thought there were things we were doing well offensively when we were in system and then we did struggle to stay aggressive."
 
"We have to believe we can [make the postseason]. We have to believe we can win. Because we're going through a stretch of a few tough losses. It really is going to boil down to how we do under pressure." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"Sometimes we get into places where we're questioning ourselves and each other and we need to figure out ways to build from leads and big plays. We had moments where we could run whatever we wanted and also moments we were very out of system." – Junior Setter Ryley Frye
 
- The Jaspers earn a split of the season series and now lead the all-time series 31-23.
- For the tenth time this season, Frye and Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) reached double digit assists in the same match with 15 and 14 respectively.
- Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) had 11 kills to lead the Broncs, her eighth match in double figures this year.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .181 in the match, while the Jaspers hit .309.
- Rider had 38 kills in the match to 40 for Manhattan.
- Manhattan had a 41-37 edge in digs.
- The Jaspers had a 9-6 advantage in blocks.
- In addition to Giehtbrock's 11, Rohde and Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) each had eight.
- Frye led the Broncs with eight digs. Giehtbrock added seven and O'Connor had seven.

UP NEXT
The Broncs remain home for a match against Iona beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday evening.