Rider University Athletics

QUEENS, NY - The Rider University volleyball team was defeated Saturday afternoon to close out action at the Lou Carnesecca Invitational, falling to UAB 23-25, 28-26, 25-12, 25-18. The Broncs fall to 1-4 on the season, while the Blazers improve to 3-3.
 
Down 3-0 in the opening set, Rider quickly responded with kills from Rylah Robinson (Fairfax, VA/Robinson), Anja Kelly (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley), and Molly Rohde (Hortonville, WI/Hortonville) to even the score. With UAB leading 9-8, the Blazers scored five-straight before Rider answered again with a 4-0 run led by a pair of Kelly kills. Down 16-12, Rider came back to even the set with four-straight points, including two Robinson aces. Trailing 22-20, Rider closed out the set with a 5-1 run, led by four Robinson kills.
 
Trailing 7-6 in set two, the Broncs went on a 5-0 run, including an ace from Simone Langford (Hollywood, FL/Flanagan). UAB would slowly fight back, tying the set 15-15. Trailing 23-21, the Broncs scored three-straight, including an ace from Rohde to earn set point. UAB would fight off the set point, then another at 25-24 before eventually taking the set 28-26.
 
With UAB leading 12-9 in set three, the Blazers took control with four-straight points, then up 17-11, UAB closed out the set with an 8-1 run.
 
UAB appeared set to cruise in the fourth, building a 9-1 lead in the set. Rider would respond, scoring six-straight led by three Kelly kills and a Langford ace to pull back within two. After UAB opened the lead back up to 15-8, Rider scored five in a row, with a pair of kills by Maisie Nawrocki (Willoughby, OH/Willoughby South). Rider would be unable to get any closer as the Blazers would take the set and the match.
 
QUOTES & NOTES
- The match was the first ever between the two programs.
- Makenna Mason (Hilton Head Island, SC/Hilton Head) had a team-high 22 assists, giving her five matches this season and 82 matches in her career with double digits.
- Katie Cook (Stanley, NC/East Lincoln[Robert Morris]) added 11 assists to secure double figures for the second time this season and third time in her career.
- Langford led Rider with a career-high tying 20 digs, giving her double figures for the fifth time this season and 17^th time in her career.
- Kelly added 13 kills, securing double figures for the third time this season and sixth time in her career.

BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
- The Broncs hit .046 in the match, while the Blazers hit .167 as a team.
- UAB had 42 kills to 41 for the Broncs. Along with Kelly's 13, Robinson added nine.
- The Blazers had 68 digs to 63 for the Broncs. In addition to Langford's 20, Mason had eight and Cook had seven.
- UAB held an edge of 11-10 in blocks and a 12-7 advantage in aces.
 
UP NEXT
- The Broncs are back in action at the Rutgers Classic Thursday, facing Delaware at 3 p.m.