SYRACUSE, NY – The Rider University volleyball team got off to a positive start to the 2025 season, winning 25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 25-11 over Le Moyne to open play at the Salt City Classic. The match was the season opener for both teams.
 
After Dolphins scored the match's opening point, Brynn Johnson (River Falls, WI/River Falls) had three aces in a 6-0 run to give Rider an early lead. Le Moyne would quickly respond, countering with a 7-1 rally to retake the lead. Down 16-14, the Broncs got two aces from Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) during a 5-0 run and the Broncs would maintain the lead for the remainder of the set.
 
The Broncs jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the second, and seemed to be in control of the match when trailing 20-15, the Dolphins went on a 5-0 run to tie the set. Rider would lead 23-22, when Le Moyne scored two-straight points to earn its first set point of the day. The Broncs would fight off the first, but the Dolphins would once again record back-to-back points to even the match at one set a piece.
 
Le Moyne carried over the momentum into the third, grabbing a 9-5 lead. Down 16-11, Rider scored four-straight points, then down 21-20 Rohde and Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) had back-to-back combo blocks and moments later Rohde delivered her fifth ace of the match to secure the third set.
 
The fourth set was all Rider. Carly Allen (Buffalo, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) got an ace and Santiago added a pair of aces herself to help Rider build a 7-3 advantage. Up 9-6, Johnson secured back-to-back kills to start a 6-1 run, then up 16-11, Santiago served out the match with nine-straight points, including another pair of aces.

QUOTES & NOTES
"A little slow out of the gate tonight, as we struggled a little bit early in serve and pass. That led to us taking some funky swings. Credit to Le Moyne as they put some pressure on us. We started to deal with that adversity a lot better towards the end of set three."
 
"Really liked the leadership from Keegan and Makenna throughout the contest. Molly and Carley were basically unstoppable and I thought our pins managed the game really well. We got a chance to see some of the young ones out there, and they stepped up and competed really well. Good team win as we loved the energy and togetherness we saw from everyone tonight." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Tonight's match was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.
- Allen made her collegiate debut in the contest, joining Tyler Adams (Wilmington, DE/Ursuline Academy) and Erynn Gotsch (DeLand, FL/DeLand) who also saw their first collegiate action. Katie Cook (Stanley, NC/East Lincoln[Robert Morris]) and Anji Vishwanathan (Wilmington, DE/The Charter School of Wilmington[New Mexico St.]) both made their Rider debuts in the match, after transferring to Rider.
- Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) had a career-high 40 assists for her 47^th match with double digits in her career. She added a career-high 15 digs for her first career double-double.
- Santiago and Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) both finished with a team-high 14 kills, reaching double figures for the 34^th and 12^th times in their respective careers.
- Johnson reached double-digit kills for the fifth time in her career with 11 and Carley McAleavey added 10 for her 10^th career double-figure kill match.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) had 14 digs, reaching double figures for the 51^st time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .301 in the match, while the Dolphins hit .207.
- Rider had 57 kills in the match to 43 for Le Moyne.
- The Broncs also held a 57-43 edge in digs.
- Rider held a 10-3 advantage in blocks, and a 15-7 lead in aces.

UP NEXT
The Broncs conclude competition at the Salt City Classic against Syracuse Saturday at 5 p.m.