BETHLEHEM, PA– The Rider University volleyball team was defeated at Lehigh Wednesday night, falling in straight sets 25-12, 28-26, 25-18. The Broncs drop to 1-11 on the season, while the Mountain Hawks improve to 8-4.
With Rider leading 2-1 in the first, Lehigh went on a 6-1 run taking a lead that would hold through the end of the set. With the Mountain Hawks leading 14-9, Lehigh would take full control of the set with a 10-1 run.
The Broncs opened the second strong, with back-to-back kills by
Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/River Falls) and
Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) putting the Broncs up 4-1. After the Broncs extended the lead to as large as 11-7, Lehigh came back, tying the set on nine different occasions before taking their first lead of the set at 25-24. Back-to-back kills by Santiago gave the Broncs set point at 26-25, but Lehigh would respond with three-straight points to earn the second set victory.
In the third, Lehigh would slowly build a lead midway through the set, going up 17-13 before
Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) served three-straight points for the Broncs to cut the deficit to just one. From there, the Mountain Hawks took control scoring five-straight points and later finishing the three-set victory.
QUOTES & NOTES
- Lehigh leads the all-time series 25-10.
- Santiago recorded her fifth double-digit dig match of the season, finishing with 10 digs.
- O'Connor led the Broncs with 11 digs in the match, her fourth match in double figures this season.
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Delaney Hughes (San Clemente, CA/Jserra Catholic) had the first double-digit assist match of her career, finishing with 20.
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- Lehigh outhit Rider .333 to .073.
- The Mountain Hawks had 41 kills to 30 for the Broncs.
- Lehigh out dug Rider 52-42.
- Santiago led the Broncs with eight kills.
Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) added seven and Johnson had five.
UP NEXT
The Broncs begin conference play Saturday with a trip to Quinnipiac for a 1 p.m. match.
