PHILADELPHIA, PA– The Rider University volleyball team claimed a set from Temple, but ultimately fell in four sets, 26-24, 25-15, 22-25, 25-21 Friday afternoon at the Cherry and White Challenge. The match was the season opener for both teams.
 
Down 11-9 in the first, the Broncs went on a five-point run during the serve of Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford). Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) and Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) started the rally with a combo block, then after taking advantage of Temple errors, Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/River Falls) capped the rally with a kill. The Broncs remained in control of the set, leading 24-22 when the Owls scored four-straight points to claim the set.
 
With Rider leading 3-1 in set two, Temple scored 10-straight points, including three aces to build a large advantage. The Broncs responded, pulling to within 17-14 after a Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong[UTEP]) ace and a combo block from Santiago and Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West). But leading 18-15, Temple again found a rhythm, scoring the final seven points of the set to move ahead 2-0.
 
Temple led for a majority of the third set, but was unable to pull away, never leading by more than two points until tied 16-16, the Owls scored four-straight. The Broncs responded immediately, getting back-to-back kills from Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston), a kill from Santiago, and another ace by Frye to even the set once again at 20-20. After Temple recaptured the lead at 21-20, the Broncs closed out the set on a 5-1 run, started by back-to-back kills by McAleavey to extend the match.
 
The Broncs slowly built a 13-9 lead in the fourth set before Temple countered with a 4-0 run to even the set. Tied 18-18, Temple scored three-straight points and would not trail again, securing the set and the match.

QUOTES & NOTES
"Today's match had a lot of good moments. One thing we talked about was our ability to compete for every point. I thought we did that well for the most part except set two where we had a small energy dip after dropping that first set. I think if we win that first set, the momentum shift could have altered some outcomes. I liked our ability to come back and force that fourth set and we had some moments to steal set four as well. Serving was good, passing was decent. We need to block and defend better as well as hold our offensive tempos a lot better. Overall I'm proud of the effort, just need to clean up those areas." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Temple extend its lead in the all-time series to 12-0.
- Giehtbrock had a team-high 10 kills.
- Frye led the Broncs with 14 assists.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .061 in the match, while the Owls hit .256.
- Rider had 36 kills in the match to 57 for Temple.
- Temple had a 38-33 edge in digs.
- The Owls had a 10-7 edge in blocks, but the Broncs held a 7-6 advantage in aces.
- Behind Giehtbrock, Santiago added eight kills and Johnson had seven.
- Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) led Rider with nine digs. Frye had six and Giehtbrock and Rohde each had four.
- Santiago led the Broncs with four total blocks.
- Frye had three aces to lead Rider.

UP NEXT
The Broncs return to action Saturday, playing Radford at 9:30 a.m. and FDU at 4:30 p.m.