Raiders Defense Prevails
Weston, MA
The 2007 GNAC Champions kicked off their 2008 season with a
convincing tournament win at The Pride Invitational hosted by Regis
College. The Raiders didn't drop a set all weekend as they
steamrolled through all five of their opponents on their way to a
second Pride Invitational Championship in three years. Ball
control was the theme of the weekend for Rivier as they out passed
and out defended their opponents. The Blue and White scooped
up 267 digs in just 15 sets for an impressive 17.8 digs/game
average on the tournament. Leading the way on defense was
senior captain Colleen Van Cura who picked up a
team high 73 digs on the weekend and was named to the All
Invitational Team. Freshmen trio Emileigh
Cenedella, Lauren Saccoccio, and
Danielle Stoodley combined for 109 digs in their
debut for the Raiders.
The Raiders offense would not be denied either as senior setter
Laura Ciummo directed Rivier with 111 assists on
the weekend leading her to her first Pride Invitational MVP
trophy. Ciummo was especially sharp in the championship match
delivering 34 assists and directing RIV to a .375 hitting
percentage against the much taller Roger Williams squad.
Sophomore middle hitter Nicole Rodriguez pounded
in 29 kills while sophomore opposite hitter Danielle
Jacques finished the tournament with 23 kills to lead the
offense.
Tournament MVP - Laura
Ciummo
All Tournament Team - Colleen Van
Cura
Rivier College 3 St Joseph's College
(ME) 0 25-10
25-16 25-10
Rivier College 3 Mount Ida
College
0 26-24 25-12
25-17
Rivier College 3 Regis
College
0 25-17 25-18
25-18
Rivier College 3 Worcester State
College 0
25-22 25-13 25-16
Rivier College 3 Roger Williams University
0 25-15 25-23 25-16
