Box Score CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Rider University volleyball team fell in straight sets in its season opener Friday night at Virginia. The Cavaliers won the match 25-12, 25-20, 25-17. The match was the season opener for both teams.
 
Virginia took control of the match early. Leading 3-2, the Cavaliers went on a 6-1 run that had the Broncs on the back foot. Leading 11-6, Virginia extended the advantage with a 6-0 run, as the Cavaliers took the opening set 25-12.
 
The second set remained close throughout as the Broncs fought back to attempt to even the match. Eventually, the Cavaliers were able to pull away for a 25-20 set win.
 
The Cavaliers maintained control in the third set, slowly building a 14-6 lead. Down 18-10, Rider scored four-straight points, including three blocks by Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West), to trim the deficit to 18-14, but the Broncs would never get any closer, falling 25-17 in the decisive set.

QUOTES & NOTES
"It was great to see the team compete after a shaky first set. Virginia is a big and fast ACC team, so once we were able to settle into their tempo and height, we found ways to frustrate them at times. They won the serve battle, but we saw a lot of positives we can take away from the match."
 
"Brynn showed some good blocking decisions, Kianny was able to score against a big block, and we had some youth get in and make some impacts in their first match. Keegan was great all night, and Ryley gritted through a good performance. Quick turnaround to play North Carolina A&T tomorrow, so we'll see how we adjust to a different style of opponent." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Today's match was the first ever between the Broncs and the Cavaliers.
- Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong) had 13 assists in her Rider debut.
- In addition to Frye, Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville), Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston), and Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) all made their Bronc debuts in the match.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .040 in the match, to Virginia's .322.
- The Cavaliers had 42 kills to 18 for the Broncs.
- Virginia had a 10-8 advantage in blocks.
- The Cavaliers had six aces to two for Rider.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) led Rider with seven digs. Frye added four.
- Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) had eight kills to pace the Broncs.
- McAleavey had five kills to lead the Broncs with Santiago adding four. Rohde and Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/ River Falls) each added three.

UP NEXT
Rider remains at the Cavalier Classic for the consolation match against North Carolina A&T at noon on Saturday.