Rider University Athletics

FAIRFIELD, CT - The Rider University volleyball team won a pair of sets Friday, but ultimately fell in five sets at Sacred Heart, 25-14, 20-25, 23-25, 25-17, 15-7. The Broncs fall to 3-12 on the season, and 2-4 in Metro play, while the Pioneers improve to 11-7, and 4-2 in conference play.
 
The Pioneers got off to a quick start, jumping out to a 10-3 lead in set one. The Broncs would not get within four points for the remainder of the set, falling behind in the match.
 
Trailing 8-7 in set two, Rider took the lead in the set with a 5-1 run, including kills from Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson) and Tori Bonacci (Downingtown, PA/Bishop Shanahan). Later in the set tied 16-16, Rider took control of the set with a 4-0 run, led by a block and a kill from Robinson as Rider evened the match.
 
Rider looked strong out of the break, slowly building a 10-6 lead when Sacred Heart responded with a 7-0 run. This time the Broncs answered immediately with a 6-0 run of their own to take back the lead. Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) had two kills and a block to go along with an ace from Olivia DeSaro (Holland, PA/Council Rock South) during the run. With Rider leading 23-20, Sacred Heart scored three-straight to tie the set, but a kill by Robinson and a Pioneer error gave the set to the Broncs.
 
Sacred Heart wrestled back control of the match, starting the third set on a 6-1 run. Later leading 18-13, the Pioneers pulled away with a 5-0 run.
 
In the decisive fifth set, the Pioneers started quick again, jumping out to a 5-1 lead, and the Broncs would be unable to get within three as Sacred Heart secured the fifth set and the match.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
- Rider's lead in the all-time series is cut to 8-4.
- Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) had 40 assists, giving her 15 matches this season and 92 matches in her career with double digits.
- Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) finished with a team-high 15 digs, reaching double figures for the 10^th time this season and 22^nd time in her career.
- Robinson finished with a team-best 13 kills to secure double figures for the fourth time this season and 24^th time in her career.
- Bonacci added 11 kills for her third-straight double-digit kill match.
- Molly Rhode (Hortonville, IL/Hortonville) finished with 10 blocks, securing double figures for the first time this season and third time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .149 in the match, while the Pioneers hit .250 as a team.
- Sacred Heart had 67 kills to 46 for Rider.
- The Pioneers had 73 digs to 55 for the Broncs. Carly Allen (Buffalo, NY/Sacred Heart Academy) added nine to Langford's 15.
- Rider held an edge of 13-7 in blocks and Sacred Heart had a 9-5 advantage in aces.
 
UP NEXT
- The Broncs are back in action Saturday, visiting Fairfield for a 4 p.m. match.