LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ– The Rider University volleyball team extended its winning streak to four Sunday afternoon, defeating Niagara in a five-set thriller 24-26, 25-22, 27-29, 25-20, 15-11. The Broncs improve to 5-12 on the season, and 4-1 in MAAC matches, while the Purple Eagles fall to 8-8 overall and an identical 4-1 in league matches.
 
The battle of two of the teams near the top of MAAC standings delivered early. Leading 11-10, the Purple Eagles went on a 5-0 run and appeared poised to draw first blood in the match, but the Broncs immediately responded with a 4-0 run of their own on the serve of Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale[UTEP]). Down 24-22, the Broncs staved off a pair of set points, but Niagara would score two straight to take the opening set.
 
The Broncs maintained control of the second throughout. Tied 3-3, Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) capped a 3-0 run with an ace and the Broncs would never trail again in the set. The Purple Eagles would make things interesting, including tying the set at 16-16. But leading 23-22, Rider would get back-to-back kills from Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) to secure the second set victory.
 
Leading 11-9 in the third, Rider went on a 10-4 run, pulling away to go up 21-13. The Purple Eagles got to work with a 5-0 run, then with Rider holding a 24-20 edge, Niagara scored four-straight points to remain in the set. The teams would swap points from that moment until the Purple Eagles tied the set at 27-27 and followed that with two more consecutive points to take the lead in the match.
 
The fourth set featured eight ties and six lead changes early. Then trailing 13-12, Santiago had two kills and a block during a 6-0 run as the Broncs took control of the set and eventually the match. The Broncs maintained the edge to take the fourth and force a set five.
 
Down 4-1 in set five, Mia Mattingly (Mokena, IL/Lincoln-Way Central) had two kills and two blocks during a 7-0 as the Broncs took a lead they would not relinquish. Up 10-7, it was the complete team effort that the Broncs showed throughout the match that came to the forefront as Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson), Mattingly, and Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) posted three-straight kills to erase any hope of a Niagara come back.
                                                                                               
QUOTES & NOTES
"We kind of talked about this was going to be a battle. Niagara came in on a really hot streak. They won five in a row. They're one of the top block and defensive teams in the conference, and their offense had been clicking. I think we had way too many opportunities in set three to go up two to one. We kind of gave up some of those opportunities, but the resiliency we showed to come back and win that fourth set and fifth set speaks volumes to the work that they're putting in during the week to try and put themselves in position to bounce back from a tough set."
 
"I know there's two philosophies on scheduling, and we choose the philosophy of that we schedule pretty tough in preseason and get tested a little bit. It probably means I'm going to have more losses on my resume than I'd like, but I'm okay with that. I'd rather get tested. I'd rather see teams in preseason like Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Northern Colorado, BYU, Duke because I think it helps prepare us for matches like today, because we can fall back on that." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"I think it was more just talking to each other and saying we need to stay calm, and we need to do what we know how to do. We know how to play volleyball. We've all been playing for years, so we basically just needed to contain our energy and not do any crazy moves and play together as a team."
 
"[In the locker room] we go, 'Who wants it more? Who wants to win more?' That's all. We always want to win more." – Junior Libero Keegan O'Connor
 
"My setters put me in a great position to swing away and just go up and hit the ball. I think I had a lot of off system out of system sets from Keegan today, so that also helped me. I think my team really just helped me set up to be in the position to get double-doubles."
 
"I don't really have to adjust. I feel like all our setters all set sort of the same tempo, and if not, we're all good enough to just go up and hit the ball." – Sophomore Outside Hitter Paige Geihtbrock
 
- Rider cuts Niagara's lead in the all-time series to 25-21.
- Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) led the Broncs with 16 kills and added 17 digs, securing her third double-double of the season.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) added the first double-double of her career with a team-high 21 digs and a career-high 11 assists.
- Santiago and Robinson each finished with 14 kills, reaching double figures for the eighth and fourth time this season, respectively.
- Kelly reached double figures in kills for the first time in her career, posting a career-high 11.
- Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) led four Broncs with double-digit assists with 21, her 15^th time reaching double figures this year. Frye reached double digits for the 12^th time, finishing with 14 and Delaney Hughes (San Clemente, CA/JSerra Catholic) reached double figures for the second time this season with 10.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Rider outhit Niagara .175 to .135.
- The Broncs had 68 kills to 59 for the Purple Eagles.
- Niagara out dug Rider 86-84.
- Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) and Mason each finished with nine digs.
- Mattingly, Santiago, and Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West) each had blocks in the match.

UP NEXT
The Broncs remain at home when they host Marist Saturday at 1 p.m.