HERSEY #1 ALL TIME FOR KILLS
 
Providence, RI
Rivier College (9-1 GNAC; 19-10 overall) swept Norwich University 3-0 and defeated Johnson & Wales University 3-2 to improve their conference record to 9-1.  In the first match of the day against Norwich, Rivier started out ice cold to go down 12 points in set one.  The Raiders came storming back however and rallied to a 27-25 first set victory.  Rivier rode the huge wave of momentum and defeated the Cadets handily in the next two sets to complete the 3 game sweep.  Outside hitters Nicole Hersey and Lauren Saccoccio led the Raiders with a combined 21 kills and 8 digs.  Saccoccio also had a team high 4 service aces.  Libero Colleen Van Cura tallied a team high 15 digs while Erin McIver, Becky Gautreau, and Brittni Taylor played well and got it done off the bench. 
In the second match Rivier kept their chances of first place in the GNAC alive with a 3-2 win over previously undefeated Johnson & Wales University.  Once again the Raiders started out sluggish in set one and struggled to find their confidence.  After a first set victory JWU kept the pressure on tight in the second set and looked to go up 2-0 in the match but some big digs by Rivier turned the tables and rallied the Raiders for a second set win.  The Raiders, who got stronger as the match went on, proceeded to win set three and narrowly missed closing out the match with a tough extra points 28-30 loss in set four.  Rivier jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the sudden death fifth set and never looked back for the 5 set victory.  Senior setter Laura Ciummo picked up a double double directing the Raider offense with 47 assists and playing good defense with 10 digs.   Sophomore's Danielle Jacques and Nicole Rodriguez led the Raider attack and were clutch in the end tallying 13 kills, 3 blocks and 2 ace serves apiece.  The nucleus of Colleen Van Cura, Danielle Stoodley, Lauren Saccoccio, and Emileigh Cenedella were the main cogs in a stingy Raider defense combining for 49 of the Raiders 79 digs in the match.
Senior Nicole Hersey became the all time kill leader in Raider history surpassing the previous record of 1110 kills set by Kori Chace (Class of 2008).  Hersey did it in style with an impressive 13 kill, 1 error, .324 hitting percentage performance to lead her team to victory.
 
Rivier College                                 3                     27  25  25
Norwich University                          0                     25  8    14
 
Rivier College                              3                    19  25  25  28  15
Johnson & Wales University        2                    25  23  22  30  11