LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ– The Rider University volleyball team won in straight sets over in-state rival Saint Peter's Saturday afternoon, winning 25-16, 25-11, 25-16. The Broncs improve to 3-9 overall and 2-2 in league play, while the Peacocks fall to 0-14 on the season and 0-4 in MAAC matches.
 
Leading 6-4 in set one, Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/River Falls) had a pair of kills during a 5-0 run that had the Broncs in control of the opening set. The Broncs continued to slowly pull away and cruise to the first-set win.
 
In the second, Rider opened the set on a 6-1 run, including a kill and a block by Gabby Polynice. After Saint Peter's closed the gap to 11-9, the Broncs went on a 5-0 run during the serve of Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville). Leading 16-11, the Broncs closed out the set with nine unanswered points, including three aces by Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong[UTEP]).
 
The Broncs appeared to carry the momentum into the third set, starting with a 4-0 run including a pair of aces by Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson). The Peacocks would fight back, tying the set at 8-8. Leading 15-14, Robinson and Rohde each had a pair of kills during a 7-1 run as the Broncs pulled away.

QUOTES & NOTES
"We came in talking about trying to be aggressive and play our brand of volleyball. I thought we started a little slow, but stared to pick it up, as we worked our way through it. When you get 41 kills, we are going to be happy with that."
 
"Kianny has been doing a really good job of stepping up. We moved her around a little bit and she was doing a good job everywhere. Molly Rohde did a great job scoring, Rylah and Paige were able to score. Jenna was able to score, and we got to see Tori coming back and seeing where she's at." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"My teammates were doing really good today on the pass, and the setters were in control of the offense."
 
"We knew we needed to finish the match in three sets, and we proved that we have the ability to do it." – Sophomore Outside Hitter Kiannisha Santiago
 
- Rider extends its lead in the all-time series to 38-21.
- For the second time this season, Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) and Frye reached double digit assists in the same match with 18 and 12 respectively.
- Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) finished with 12 kills on .524 hitting, her fifth match this season in double figures.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) needed just two sets to record 10 digs, her seventh match this season in double digits.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .282 in the match, holding Saint Peter's to just -.022.
- Rider had 41 kills in the match to just 16 for the Peacocks.
- Rider had a 51-39 advantage in digs.
- The Broncs had a 5-1 edge in blocks.
- In addition to Santiago's 12 kills, Robinson had five and three Broncs each had four.
- Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) had nine digs and Carly Zimmet (Purcellville, VA/Loudoun Valley) had eight to go along with O'Connor's 10.
- Frye and Robinson each had three aces in the match.

UP NEXT
The Broncs remain home for a match next Saturday against Siena beginning at 4 p.m.