FAIRFIELD, CT– The fifth-seeded Rider University volleyball team won the first set, but ultimately fell in four sets to top-seeded Fairfield 21-25, 27-25, 25-11, 25-21. The Broncs close out the season at 12-17. The Stags improve to 21-6 on the year.
 
After falling behind 7-2 in set one, Rider slowly fought back into the set, using a 4-0 run with a pair of kills by Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) to go ahead 15-14, the Broncs' first lead of the set. Tied 19-19, Rider scored three-straight points with a kill and a block by Gabby Polynice (Manhattan Beach, CA/Grant[Delaware State]) and the Broncs would never look back, taking the set.
 
The Broncs opened the second set on a 7-3 run. Trailing 8-5, Fairfield took the lead with a 5-0 run. With Fairfield leading 15-11, Rider tied the set with a 4-0 run, including an ace by Molly Strah (Akron, OH/Archbishop Hoban). The Broncs had a set point at 24-23, but the Stags closed out the set on a 4-1 run to even the match.
 
With Fairfield leading 8-7 in the third set, the Stags took control of the set with a 7-2 run. Later leading 17-11, Fairfield closed out the set with an 8-0 run.
 
The Stags carried the momentum into the fourth set opening the frame on an 8-2 run. Down 12-4, Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) scored five-straight points to get back within striking range. Rider would close to within three at 18-15 thanks to a 3-0 run during Strah's serve, but Fairfield again pulled away, scoring three-straight points to take a 23-17 lead. Down 24-18, Rider fought off three match points, but could not stave off the fourth.

QUOTES & NOTES
- Fairfield wins its third match over the Broncs this season, extending the Stags lead in the all-time series to 44-5.
- Rider advanced to the MAAC semifinals for the fourth-straight season, advancing to the MAAC Championship match in 2020-21 and 2021.
- For the 15^th 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 28 and 13 respectively.
- Jenna Amaro (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Archbishop McCarthy) and Giehtbrock both finished with 10 kills, reaching double figures for the seventh and 13^th time this year, respectively.
- Strah led the Broncs with 14 digs, her 11^th match in double figures this season.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) added 12 digs, her 20^th match with double-digit digs this season.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .120 in the match, while the Stags hit .230.
- Rider had 44 kills in the match to 55 for Fairfield.
- The Stags had a 63-42 advantage in digs.
- Rider had an 11-9 advantage in blocks.
- In addition to Strah and O'Connor, Frye finished with five digs.
- In addition to Amaro and Giehtbrock, Polynice finished with nine kills.
- Polynice had five kills and Santiago and Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) both had four.