LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ– The Rider University volleyball team won their third-straight match, all in straight sets, winning 25-20, 25-14, 25-14 over Saint Peter's Wednesday night. The Broncs improve to 10-15 on the season and 9-3 in MAAC play, while the Peacocks fall to 5-14 on the year, including a 3-9 mark in league matches.
 
The Broncs slowly built the lead in the opening set, eventually going ahead 19-11 before the Peacocks responded with a 5-0 run to pull within three. With Rider ahead 21-18, Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PA/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) had back-to-back kills before a third Rider point put the Broncs on top 24-18, closing out the set just a few points later.
 
The second set was Rider's from the start, opening up a 9-2 lead and never trailing in the set. Leading 17-11, Rider pulled away with a 5-0 run capped by back-to-back kills from Santiago.
 
The Peacocks appeared to flip the script early in the third, going ahead 5-0. After quickly pulling to within 7-5, Rider went on an 8-0 run, including three-straight blocks by Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West). Up 13-9, Rider went on another four-point run, with a block and two kills by Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley), and the Broncs maintained control down the stretch.

QUOTES & NOTES
"I thought the energy was good. They came fired up in that third set, but we did a really good job of keeping composure and coming back and outscoring them 25-9 from there."
 
"Makenna was really good with her serve. She was putting the ball in a spot where we wanted to, and put a lot of pressure on their passing, which made it easier for us to get the ball back and score." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"After a nice few wins, you can see our energy and the way we play. We're more intense, we know we can do it, and finishing out strong motivates us."
 
" I know it's not always going to be me, but when it is I go out there and swing like I have nothing to lose." – Sophomore Outside Hitter Anja Kelly
 
- Rider now completes the regular season sweep and leads the all-time series 40-21.
- Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong[UTEP]) and Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) finished with 13 and 10 assists to reach double figures for the 19^th and 22^nd times this season.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) had a match-high 16 digs, reaching double figures for the 15^th time this season.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .333 in the match, while the Peacocks hit just .019.
- Rider had 38 kills in the match to 24 for Saint Peter's.
- The Broncs had a 49-33 edge in digs.
- Rider held an 8-5 lead in blocks, and Saint Peter's had an 11-5 advantage in aces.
- Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) led Rider with nine kills. Santiago added eight and Kelly had seven.

UP NEXT
The Broncs begin a four-match road trip with a visit to Siena on Saturday for a 2 p.m. match.