LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ – The Rider University volleyball team got its first straight-set victory of the season Tuesday night, defeating Saint Peter's, 25-17, 25-17, 25-19. The Broncs improve to 5-8 on the season and 3-0 in conference play, while the Peacocks fall to 5-9 overall and 0-3 in league matches.
 
Tied 9-9 in the opening set, the Broncs got back-to-back-kills from Kiannisha Santiago (San Juan, PR/Hudson Catholic (NJ)) to start a 5-1 run. The Peacocks would fight back and get to within two at 19-17, but the Broncs took over, serving out the set with six-straight points, including two kills, a block, and an assist from Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville)
 
Rider immediately carried the momentum into set two, opening the second frame with seven-straight points on the serve of Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head). Later in the set, leading 17-12, the Broncs went on a 4-0 run, led by three kills from Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) and the Broncs later entered the break leading 2-0.
 
After the Peacocks scored the first point of the third set, the Broncs once again got to work, responding with a 5-0 run, including a pair of Simone Langford () aces. Down 13-6, the Peacocks got back into the set with a 5-1 run, and would later close to within two at 18-16. Up 19-17, Rider all but put away the match with a 5-0 run, including a pair of combo blocks by Rohde and Erynn Gotsch (DeLand, FL/DeLand).
 
QUOTES & NOTES
"We've had opportunities to get sweeps earlier this year, had a little bit of a letdown in set three against Siena, where we knew we could play better, but it was good to see us back on our home floor, getting this taken care of in a quick and timely fashion. We knew they were going to be aggressive, so we just had to play our game, withstand their attempts in the beginning and let our level of play come through."
 
"Every time I looked, I was watching the play develop, and Keegan was just sitting in the right spot. She had a couple of reads where she could not be in a better position. Makenna was really disciplined tonight where she wasn't leaving early, she wasn't guessing. She was just playing defense." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"This past weekend, we had an opportunity to get a sweep, but just had a letdown set, so we just went in with the mindset that we need to give it our all, and it made us play to our highest potential."
 
"Our block had a perfect setup tonight, there were no holes, and it made it easier for me to dig and read. We need to bring the exact same energy and intensity that we brought tonight into this weekend, and we're going to have to double it." – Senior Libero Keegan O'Connor
 
- Rider extends its lead in the all-time series to 42-21.
- Santiago led all players in the match with 15 kills, while hitting .308, reaching double figures for the seventh time this season and 40^th time in her career.
- Robinson added 11 kills to reach double figures for the fourth time this season and 15^th time in her career.
- Mason had 32 assists for her 12^th match this season and 58^th match in her career with double digits. She added 13 assists for her fifth career double-double.
- Keegan O'Connor (Weatherford, TX/Weatherford) led all players in the match with 21 digs to reach double figures for the 11^th time this season and 61^st time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .236 in the match, while the Peacocks hit .000 as a team.
- Rider had 43 kills to 21 for Saint Peter's.
- The Broncs had 54 digs, while the Peacocks had 41.
- Saint Peter's held edges of 5-3 in aces and 8-6 in blocks.

UP NEXT
The Broncs continue the five-match homestand Friday when they host Sacred Heart at 6 p.m.