Rider University Athletics

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Rider University volleyball team earned a Metro Conference win Friday night, defeating Iona, 25-17, 25-23, 22-25, 25-23. The Broncs improve to 4-13 on the season, and 3-5 in Metro play, while the Gaels fall to 10-10, and 5-3 in conference play.
 
Tied 2-2 in the first, the Broncs scored four-straight led by a pair of kills from Aubrey Baker (Vestal, NY/Vestal[Merrimack]). The Broncs maintained the lead throughout the set, then up 20-16, Rider pulled away with another 4-0 run capped by an ace from Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head).
 
Down 2-0 in the second, Iona took the lead in the set with a 6-0 run. Rider countered with a 6-2 run that tied the set 8-8, including an ace from Katie Cook (Stanley, NC/East Lincoln[Robert Morris]). After an Iona point, Rider got back-to-back-to-back kills from Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson), Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville), and Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) to take an 11-9 lead. With Rider leading 21-19, Iona took the lead with a 4-0 run, but the Broncs responded immediately. Rider closed out the set with a 4-0 rally of their own, led by a pair of aces from Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan).
 
With Rider leading set three 10-9, the Gaels took control of the set with a 6-0 run. Then up 17-15, it was another 5-0 run by the Gaels. With Iona up 24-17, the Broncs fought off five set points, led by three blocks and a kill by Rohde, but the lead was too much to overcome.
 
Trailing 4-2 in the fourth, Rider took the lead in the set with a 4-0 run with a pair of kills from Kelly. Up 8-7, Rider scored three-straight, capped by a Cook ace, and Rider maintained the lead through the set. With Rider leading 24-20, the Gaels fought off three match points, but a combo block by Kelly and Tori Bonacci (Downingtown, PA/Bishop Shanahan) earned Rider the win.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
"We got off to the start we wanted, winning sets one and two, and getting leads in both. I liked how we found a way to get some momentum in the third leading into the fourth. We got a lead and I'm proud of the effort to hold off their late push. There's a lot of people who have chipped in on [the 100-wins], from Sue, to Rich, to Keydrick, who have helped this team get to where it is today. I'm just one person, so credit to them, and credit to the players for helping me reach this milestone." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
"It started with Rylah and her career-high. She was really good at putting the ball down, and all our other hitters were coming on strong as well, so it made it really hard for their block to know where we were going. We had a really strong week of practice. We have a game where if the ball hits the floor we go back to zero, so we just play with that mindset during the real matches." – Senior Setter Makenna Mason
 
- Rider trims the Iona lead in the all-time series to 30-23.
- Mason had 56 assists, giving her 17 matches this season and 94 matches in her career with double digits. She added a career-high 21 digs for her sixth double-double of the season and 20^th of her career.
- Langford matched Mason with a career-high 21 digs, reaching double figures for the 12^th time this season and 24^th time in her career.
- Carly Allen (Buffalo, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) finished with 13 digs to reach double figures for the first time this season and second time in her career.
- Cook had 11 digs to secure double digits for the second time this season and third time in her career.
- Robinson led all players in the match with a career-high 23 kills, reaching double figures for the fifth time this season and 25^th time in her career.
- Kelly added a career-high 14 kills to post double digits for the fifth time this season and eighth time in her career.
- Bonacci had 10 kills to finish with double figures for the fourth time in her freshman season.
- Rider head coach Jeff Rotondo earned his 100^th-career win at Rider in the match.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .234 in the match, while the Gaels hit .189 as a team.
- Rider had 70 kills to 46 for Iona.
- The Broncs had 94 digs to 77 for the Gaels.
- Both teams finished with seven blocks and six aces.
 
UP NEXT
- The Broncs are back in action Saturday, hosting Manhattan at 6 p.m.