Saturday, September 13, 2025
Rutgers/Rider Invitational
Rider Broncs (1-5) vs. New Hampshire Wildcats (4-2) / Saint Francis Red Flash (3-3)
Location: Lawrenceville, NJ
Time: 1 p.m. / 6 p.m.
Live Video – BroncVision (UNH / SFU)
Live Stats – GoBroncs.com
 
What You Need To Know
- Saturday'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 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 fifth in the conference at 3.05 kills per set.
- 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 sitting third in the MAAC this season, averaging 1.00 blocks per set and fourth in the conference at 0.61 aces per set, while McAleavey currently ranks ninth in the MAAC this season, hitting .274.
- 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 fourth in the MAAC currently, averaging 3.55 digs per set.
- 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 5-2 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 fifth in the MAAC, averaging 6.94 assists per set and recorded her 1,000^th-career assist last time out at Rutgers.
- Carly Allen (Buffalo, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) has been Rider's top freshman this season, currently third on the team in aces with four and second on squad with 80 service receptions.
- Rider and the Wildcats will be playing for the first time ever when former Rider head coach Chris Feliciano returns to Alumni Gym. The Wildcats reached the NCAA Tournament a season ago before falling to Arizona State in the first round. This season, the Wildcats are off to a 4-2 start, including a five-set win over fellow MAAC opponent Saint Peter's.
- The Broncs lead the all-time series, 13-7, over their former NEC Rivals, but the Broncs and Red Flash have not played since 2011 and the Broncs have not topped Saint Francis since 1995. The Red Flash are 3-3 this season with a five-set win over Siena on the year.