Friday, October 10, 2025 / Saturday, October 11, 2025
Rider Broncs (6-9, 4-1 MAAC) vs. Quinnipiac Bobcats (6-11, 3-2 MAAC) / Merrimack Warriors (4-10, 2-3 MAAC)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ
Time: 6 p.m. / 2 p.m.
Live Video – BroncVision - Friday / Saturday
Live Stats – GoBroncs.com
 
What You Need To Know
- Both of this weekend's matches will be available on BroncVision.
- The Broncs were selected third by the league's coaches in the MAAC Preseason Poll, including a first-place vote. Rider finished third in the regular season in 2024 before reaching the MAAC Tournament semifinals with a win over Merrimack. The Broncs ultimately fell in the semifinals to Quinnipiac.
- Rider got off to a strong start to conference play over the opening weekend, defeating Marist, then Siena, both in four sets. The Broncs then earned their first sweep of the season on Tuesday, defeating Saint Peter's in straight sets to move to 3-0 in conference play. After defeating Sacred Heart in four sets, the Broncs took the first set from Fairfield before ultimately falling for the first time in conference play.
- Rider returns five starters from a season ago led by First-Team All-MAAC honoree Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)). Santiago was named to the Preseason All-MAAC Team by the league's coaches this season. The senior led the Broncs last season at 3.04 kills per set and 350 total kills. This season, Santiago is among the league's best, currently third in the conference at 3.41 kills per set. The senior had 38 kills across the first conference weekend to earn MAAC Player of the Week honors.
- Other returning starters include the middle hitter duo of Second-Team All-MAAC honoree Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) and Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West). Rohde led the Broncs and was second in the MAAC last season with 139 total blocks and McAleavey led the Broncs and was fourth in the conference with a .289 hitting percentage. Rohde is leading the MAAC this season, averaging 1.14 blocks per set, while McAleavey is currently second in the MAAC, and 42^nd nationally, this season, hitting .395.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) is reprising her role as starting libero. She led Rider and was sixth in the MAAC with 337 digs a season ago. She is fifth in the MAAC currently, averaging 3.53 digs per set. She recorded her 1,000^th career dig late in the fourth set at Siena. Last week, O'Connor averaged 4.55 digs per set, including a season-high 21 in just three sets against Saint Peter's to earn MAAC Libero of the Week honors
- Defensive Specialist Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) also returns after finishing second on the team with 229 digs in 2024.
- Key reserves returning for the Broncs include Makenna Mason, who has become the starting setter this season, after coming off the bench as the second setter in Rider's 6-2 offense last season. Outside hitters Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/River Falls) and Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) have both seen time in the starting lineup and have earned significant playing time early this season. Mason is currently fourth in the MAAC, averaging 7.71 assists per set and recorded her 1,000^th-career assist Rutgers. Mason averaged 12.00 assists per set on the opening conference weekend while also recording a double-double against Marist to earn MAAC Setter of the Week honors. Last week, Mason average 11.64 assists and had a pair of double-doubles to earn Setter of the Week honors for the second-straight week.
- Carly Allen (Buffalo, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) has been Rider's top freshman this season, currently third on the team in aces with 15 and fifth on the squad with 41 digs. Erynn Gotsch (DeLand, FL/DeLand) has been key for the Broncs since the start of conference play, sitting second on the team with 57 kills in league matches.
- Quinnipiac leads the all-time series 16-14 over Rider, while the Broncs lead the all-time series 3-0 over the Warriors.
- Quinnipiac is 3-2 in league play so far, with both of its losses coming in for sets to Fairfield and Niagara, the two remaining unbeaten teams in MAAC play. Elena Giacomini leads the Bobcat offense with 306 kills on the season, and is also second on the team with 172 digs.
- Merrimack is 2-3 in MAAC contests, earning wins over Sacred Heart and Canisius. Mckenna Shotwell leads the Warriors offense with 115 kills and 21 aces. Ella Maldonado leads the defense with 176 digs.