Rider University Athletics

Ryan Gelenitis begins his third year as an assistant coach for the Rider University volleyball team in 2019.

Gelenitis joined the staff as an assistant in 2018 after serving as a volunteer assistant during the 2017 campaign. Before his tenure in Lawrenceville, he was an assistant coach with the Atlantic Valley Volleyball Club 16U National Team from November of 2014 through May of 2015. While with the organization he worked alongside Rider Head Coach Chris Feliciano.

He has also served as the JV Coach and assistant coach for the varsity volleyball team at Mt. Saint Mary Academy in Watchung, New Jersey for one season. His first coaching opportunity came at Elmira College where he served as a student assistant coach for the women’s volleyball team from 2011-2013.

Gelenitis graduated from Elmira College in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and secondary education. As a undergrad, he was a four-year starter on the men’s volleyball team and a three-year captain.

He currently works as a math teacher at Princeton High School.

In 2018, Rider had its highest finish ever in the MAAC. The Broncs finished the regular season in third-place thanks to posting a 12-6 mark. The 12 conference wins were also a new program record as well. The team ended the year 19-11 overall. The 19 wins were the most for the team under Head Coach Chris Feliciano and were the most for Rider since the team won 20 in 1994. The Broncs advanced to the MAAC Championship Semifinals for the first time in program history as well.

During the year, freshman setter Anilee Sher was named the MAAC Rookie of the Week a conference-best four times. Junior Rachelle Runyon was named the MAAC Libero of the Week a conference-best four times as well during the year. Junior Meredith Pellegrino also earned weekly accolades for the Broncs as she was once recognized as the MAAC Player of the Week. 

Following the year, senior Hailey Riede earned First Team All-MAAC honors, junior Rachelle Runyon landed on the All-MAAC Second Team and Anilee Sher was named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Riede became the first Rider player to earn All-MAAC honors more than an once and ended her career with the third most kills in program history. She recorded her 1,000th kill in the first match of the year and ended up with over 1,300 in her career. Runyon had 574 digs on the season and averaged 4.95 digs per set. That is the third-most digs in a single-season in program history and the fourth-most digs per set. She also picked up her 1,000th career dig in the MAAC Championship second round. Sher became just the fourth player in program history to record over 1,000 assists in a season as she finished with 1,054.