LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Rider University volleyball team bounced back from a pair of losses, defeating Siena in four sets, 25-18, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19, Friday night. The Broncs improve to 13-15 overall and 11-6 in MAAC play. The Saints drop to 13-18 overall and 8-9 in league matches.
 
Tied 1-1 in the first, the Broncs quickly grabbed the lead with a 3-0 run, including an ace from Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford). Then leading 5-4, Rider went on an extended 9-3 run, led by two kills each from Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) and Carley McAleavey (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown West), with an ace from Carly Allen (Buffalo, NY/Sacred Heart Academy). With Rider up 19-11, the Saints scored six-straight points, but Rider quickly responded with a 6-1 run to close out the set, with McAleavey and Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) each getting a kill and a block during the rally.
 
After Rider built an 11-8 lead in set two, the Saints countered with a 4-0 run that took the lead, then extended the run to 7-1 to extend it. Down 17-14, the Broncs scored three unanswered capped by an ace from Tyler Adams (Wilmington, DE/Ursuline Academy) to tie the set 17-17. Tied 19-19, the Saints scored back-to-back points and would not trail again to even the match.
 
After a back-and-forth start to the third set, Siena led 17-14 when the Broncs made their move. Rider scored six-straight points led by two kills and two blocks from Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/River Falls). Up 20-19, the Broncs distanced themselves with a 4-0 run, getting a pair of Santiago kills and an ace by Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan).
 
Down 2-0 in set four, Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) had back-to-back solo blocks to start a 4-0 run and the Broncs would lead for the remainder of the match. Siena frequently pulled within one, but leading 14-13, the Broncs scored five-straight with a pair of kills from Johnson leading the way along with another Adams ace. Up 20-16, Rider got another 4-0 run to set up match point. The Saints fought off three match points, but the Broncs would get a kill from Santiago to secure the victory.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
"It's good to be back on our home floor for the last weekend. Good to see us turn it around, and come back out with really good energy in the first set. They played well in the second, so have to give them credit, and really happy with how we turned it around in sets three and four."
 
"Brynn stepped up, we watched her in warm ups today and she looked really energetic, and we just had a gut feeling. They held our middles in check a little more this time so it was good to see Brynn, Kianny, and some others step up." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
 
"I had a great defense behind me, telling me where to hit, and supportive teammates from all over. We had a great week of practice, practicing what we do in our gym." – Senior Outside Hitter Brynn Johnson
 
- Rider completes the season sweep and trims Siena's lead in the all-time series to 30-22.
- With the win, the Broncs clinch a top four seed in the MAAC Tournament and will host and opening round match. The Broncs can secure the three seed with a victory tomorrow in the regular season finale.
- Santiago led all players in the match with 21 kills on .488 hitting. She reached double figures for the 18^th time this season and 51^st time in her career. She also added 11 digs for her fifth double-double of the season and 11^th of her career.
- Santiago now has 1,084 career kills, passing Ryan Ackermann '17 for ninth in program history. Her 376 kills this season are 10^th-most in a single season in program history.
- Johnson tied a career-high with 16 kills on .353 hitting, reaching double figures for the fourth time this season and eighth time in her career.
- Mason had 46 assists for her 26^th match this season and 72^nd match in her career with double digits. She added 10 digs for her 12^th career double-double. Her 46 assists give her 886 on the season, good for a tie for 10^th in a single season in program history.
- O'Connor finished with a match-high 14 digs, securing double figures for the 24^th time this season and 74^th time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .304 in the match, while the Saints hit .211 as a team.
- Rider had 62 kills to 46 for Siena.
- The Broncs had 53 digs to 49 for the Saints.
- Rider held advantages of 12-4 in blocks and 7-4 in aces.

UP NEXT
The Broncs are back in action Saturday for the regular season finale against Marist. Prior to the 2 p.m. match, the team will honor its outgoing senior class.