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Langford Virginia
Mike Tripp
0
Merrimack Merri 5-11,3-4 MAAC
3
Winner Rider Rider 7-10,5-2 MAAC
Merrimack Merri
5-11,3-4 MAAC
0
Final
3
Rider Rider
7-10,5-2 MAAC
Winner
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 F
Merrimack Merri 18 18 12 (0)
Rider Rider 25 25 25 (3)

Game Recap: Women's Volleyball |

Volleyball Tops Merrimack in Straight Sets

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University volleyball team won in straight sets over Merrimack Saturday afternoon 25-18, 25-18, 25-12. The Broncs Improve to 7-10 on the season and 5-2 in conference play, while the Warriors fall to 5-11 overall and 3-4 in league matches.
 
Already leading 5-4 in the first, Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) and Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) each had an ace during an 8-1 run as the Broncs began to pull away. Down 19-11, the Warriors would score three-straight points, but that is as close as they would get, as the Broncs maintained their strong play to take the set.
 
Rider was dominant in set two from the start, building a 10-2 lead, led by four kills from Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)). With Rider up 14-5, the Warriors scored three-straight points, but up 15-9, Rider got another three kills from Santiago during a 6-2 run to remove any possibility of a Merrimack comeback.
 
Down 5-3 in the third, the Broncs got to work. Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) had an ace during a 6-0 run that gave the Broncs the lead. Rider would quickly extend the lead to 14-7, and did not allow a single point on Merrimack's serve for the remainder of the match, earning the three-set win.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
"A good bounce back match today. We didn't play at the level I know we're capable of yesterday, so we really needed to get back in rhythm today with scoring on offense and blocking and defending the way we want to.We got on top of them quick and played with good energy throughout. We didn't have that dip that allows our opponent to turn four points into seven. We knew going in they were going to dig, so we had to keep coming at them again and again until the match is over." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"Our ability to fire on all cylinders today was really good. We were able to fix our serve pass game and allow our hitters to execute. Our block set up was done really well every time, so it was a lot easier to read the hitters and see where the ball was going. This match just shows how well we can play, and I don't even think this was our best. So if we show up playing our best, we can compete with every team in the conference." – Junior defensive specialist Simone Langford.
 
- Rider's lead in the all-time series is extended to 4-0.
- Santiago finished with a match-high 13 kills, reaching double figures for the 10th time this season and 43rd time in her career.
- Mason had 29 assists for her 15th match this season and 61st match in her career with double digits.
- O'Connor led Rider with 11 digs to reach double figures for the 15th time this season and 65th time in her career.
- Langford added 10 digs to reach double figures for the second time this year and ninth time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .352 in the match, while the Warriors hit just .086 as a team.
- Rider had 45 kills to 22 for Merrimack.
- The Broncs had 39 digs to 28 for the Broncs.
- Rider held edges of 9-4 in aces and 9-5 in blocks.

UP NEXT
The Broncs are back in action Friday with a trip to Canisius. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 
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