BLACKSBURG, VA– The Rider University volleyball team was defeated by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Thursday afternoon in straight sets, 25-14, 25-21, 27-25. The Broncs fall to 1-9 on the season, while the Mocs improve to 8-4.
 
With Rider holding a 4-3 lead in the opening set, Chattanooga took control with a 10-2 run, going up 13-6 the were unable to find any footing in the remainder of the set.
 
The Broncs composed themselves during the set break and quickly built a 6-3 lead in set two, capped by back-to-back kills from Paige Giehtbrock (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston). After the Mocs came back and took a 10-8 lead, Rider would once again respond, this time getting three kills from Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) in a 4-0 run, taking back the lead of the set. With Rider up 15-12, Chattanooga would deliver the decisive run of set two with five-straight point, taking a lead it would not relinquish.
 
Rider would come out hot again to open the third set, going up 4-1 behind a trio of Giehtbrock kills, but once again the Mocs quickly responded with a 3-0 run to even the set. Trailing 11-8, Giehtbrock remained hot with a pair of kills and a combo block during a 6-0 run as Rider regained control of the set. With Rider leading 24-22, the Mocs fought off a pair of set points, closing out the set and the match on a 5-1 run.
                                                                                               
QUOTES & NOTES
- The Mocs now lead the all-time series 2-0.
- Giehtbrock reached double digits for the third time this season with a team-high 10 kills.
- Ryley Frye (New Hope, MN/Robbinsdale Armstrong[UTEP]) led Rider with 19 assists and Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) added 18, their eighth and ninth match in double figures, respectively.
 
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Chattanooga outhit Rider .352 to .144.
- The Mocs had 44 kills to 43 for the Broncs.
- Chattanooga out dug Rider 49-41.
- Behind Giehtbrock, Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville), Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson), and Kelly each had seven kills.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) led Rider with nine digs. Frye added eight and Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) had six.

UP NEXT
The Broncs remain in Virginia Tech to face Chattanooga Thursday at noon.