RIVIER EARNS CHANCE TO DEFEND GNAC TITLE

Nashua, NH
Rivier College (11-1 GNAC; 24-10 overall) defeated Emmanuel College 3-1 in a GNAC semi-finals match on Thursday night.  The Raiders defense and serving once again were the reason for the victory.  RIV tallied 93 digs and 14 ace serves in the match allowing for an 8 point deficit to be erased in set 1 followed by wins in sets 2 and 4 to close the match.  Senior libero Colleen Van Cura led the defensive charge with a scintillating 23 digs.  Freshmen Emileigh Cenedella, Danielle Stoodley, and Lauren Saccoccio combined for 45 digs to round off the Raider back court.  The trio also combined for 12 of the Raiders' 14 ace serves.  Junior Lindsay Chace was huge at the net with a team high 5 blocks.  Chace also was great on offense with 7 kills on just 20 swings with only 1 error for a .300 hitting percentage.  Senior setter Laura Ciummo dished out 42 assists and chipped in with 7 digs and 2 blocks.  Outside hitter Nicole Hersey bombed in 14 kills as did her counterpart, Saccoccio. Sophomore's Danielle Jacques and Nicole Rodriguez combined for 11 kills and 3 blocks. 
 
(1) Rivier College            3        29  25  26  25
(4) Emmanuel College     1        27  17  28  15