LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ– The Rider University volleyball team saw its four-match winning streak come to an end Sunday afternoon at the hands of Fairfield, 27-25, 25-7, 25-23. The Broncs close out the regular season at 11-16 overall, and 10-8 in MAAC matches. The Stags will enter the MAAC Tournament at 20-6 overall and 16-2 in league play.
 
Following the senior day ceremony, the Broncs started strong, winning the first three points of the match on the serve of Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong[UTEP]). Trailing 7-6, Fairfield appeared to take control with a 5-0 run. Rider would respond trailing 14-10, scoring six-straight points with Gabby Polynice (Manhattan Beach, CA/Grant[Delaware State]) recording two kills and two blocks during the run. With Rider leading 19-16, Fairfield regained the lead with a 4-0 run. Down 24-22, Rider came back with three-straight points to lead 25-24, but the Stags responded with three-straight points to secure the set.
 
Fairfield was dominant in the second set jumping out to a 5-1 lead. Up 8-3, Fairfield scored 10-straight points and never looked back.
 
The third set was once again tight, featuring 12 ties. Down 6-5, Rider went on a 4-0 run including a pair of aces by Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan). Trailing 11-9, Fairfield responded with a 6-0 run. The Broncs still had a final run in them. Down 17-14, Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) capped a 4-0 run with an ace to take an 18-17 lead. Tied 23-23, the Stags would take the final two points of the match.

QUOTES & NOTES
"Obviously, we want to take away the things that we did well in sets one and three with the exception of finishing set one. We had opportunities and didn't go for it. We battled in the third set, but it just didn't go our way."

"Fairfield's MO is they dig and transition extremely well, probably the best team in the conference at it. You have to match that and the only way to do that is by digging as well as they are."

"You get to see [the seniors] grow, evolve. When they come in as freshmen, they're going to make some mistakes. It's just guiding them the right way to make smart decisions, and when you see that transformation take place, it's pretty cool to witness. They are a special group amd it's definitely going to be different without them here." - Head Coach Jeff Rotondo

"We really want us four seniors to come out strong and show Fairfield what we had in us. I was just excited to play with the team and have fun with everyone. I just wish that it ended differently with the win. The emotions are always much stronger when you know it's your last game in Alumni Gym." - Senior Defensive Specialist Molly Strah

- Fairfield sweeps the season series and now leads the all-time series 43-5.
- Prior to the match, the team honored its four seniors, Molly Strah (Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban), Polynice, Jenna Amaro (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Archbishop McCarthy), and Tori Schrader (Grantville, PA/Lower Dauphin).
- O'Connor had a team-high 13 digs, her 18^th match with double-digit digs this season.
- Strah finished with 11 digs, her ninth match in double figures this season.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .125 in the match, while the Stags hit .286.
- Rider had just 30 kills in the match to 47 for Fairfield.
- Fairfield had a 61-47 edge in digs.
- Rider had a 9-6 advantage in blocks.
- Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) led the Broncs with nine kills. Amaro added seven and Schrader finished with five.
- In addition to O'Connor and Strah, Carly Zimmet (Purcellville, VA/Loudoun Valley) finished with nine digs.
- Santiago had seven blocks and Polynice had six.

UP NEXT
The Broncs begin the MAAC Tournament in Fairfield on Friday.