Rider University Athletics

LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ - The Rider University volleyball team was defeated in its first Metro Conference match of the season, falling to Marist, 25-11, 25-16, 25-23. The Broncs fall to 1-9 on the season, while the Red Foxes improve to 6-8 in what was the first conference match this season for both teams.
 
Marist jumped out early in the opening set, taking a quick 6-0 lead. The Broncs were unable to score more than two-straight points in the set falling behind 1-0.
 
With Rider holding a 3-1 lead in set two, the Red Foxes countered with a 5-0 run. The Broncs tied the set back up at 6-6, but it was another 5-0 Marist run that gave the Red Foxes control of the set. Leading 12-9, a 6-0 Marist run took away any hope of a Rider comeback.
 
The Broncs came out of the break fired up, scoring the first eight points of the set, led by three kills from Maisie Nawrocki (Willoughby, OH/Willoughby South) and an ace by Olivia DeSaro (Holland, PA/Council Rock South). The Broncs extended the lead to 11-2 when Marist countered with five-straight points. Then leading 13-11, Rider went on a 4-0 run with two kills from Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley), a kill by Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson), and a block from Molly Rohde (Hortonville, IL/Hortonville). With Rider leading 20-16, Marist scored three-straight to pull within one, and down 22-19, the Red Foxes closed out the match with a 6-1 run.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
"Not good enough in any aspect. The way we started the match wasn't anything we hoped for or were working towards. Then we get out to an 11-2 lead, 17-11, and we can't hold it. It's unacceptable. It's not how we play, and it's not how we practice. We have to find some attitude and we have about 20 hours to do it." – Head Coach Jeff Rotondo
 
- Marist extends its lead in the all-time series to 35-26.
- Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) had a team-high 22 assists, giving her 10 matches this season and 87 matches in her career with double digits.
- Kelly finished with 10 kills to reach double figures for the fourth time this season and seventh time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .143 in the match, while the Red Foxes hit .244 as a team.
- Rider had 34 kills to 32 for Marist. Behind Kelly, Robinson and Nawrocki both finished with seven kills.
- The Broncs had 34 digs to 30 for the Red Foxes. Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan) led Rider with nine and Mason added seven to lead the Broncs.
- Marist held an edge of 5-3 in blocks and had a 15-2 advantage in aces.
 
UP NEXT
- The Broncs are back in action Saturday against Siena. First serve is at 6:00 p.m.