Boston, MA - Rivier College (9-1 GNAC; 15-9 overall), winners of
their last 9 out of 10 matches, defeated both St Joseph College
(CT) and Suffolk University 3-1 to improve their conference record
to 9-1. The Raider freshmen stepped in and stepped up against St
Joseph College as 6 of the 8 Raider newbie's saw significant
playing time in the match. Nicole
Boucher (Salem, NH)returned to the starting line-up
after a month layoff and registered her first double double of her
career. The 5'9 pin hitter had a match high 17 kills and a match
high 13 digs to lead RIV. First year middle hitters Megan
Dudek (W. Chesterfield, NH) and Elizabeth
Hegarty (Brookline, NH) both had themselves a
match as well. Dudek served tough with a team high 5 ace serves,
blocked well with a team high 5 blocks, and hit with consistency
with 4 kills on just 10 attempts. Hegarty put down a career high 11
kills for the Blue and White. Freshmen setter Erin
Sweeney (Chicopee, MA) had her best game to date
in her young career registering 26 assists, 8 digs and 2 blocks
while classmate Morgan
Peck (Sudbury, MA) was solid on the right pin
with 8 kills, 3 blocks, 2 ace serves and 2 digs. Junior Meghan
Farrell (Marlborough, MA) and sophomore
Christi
Pratte (Manchester, NH) were settling forces on
the court. Farrell narrowly missed a double double with 10 digs and
9 kills while Pratte combined with freshman Toni-Rose
Bailon (Manchester, NH) in the back row for a flawless
21 for 21 on receive and 11 digs.
The Raiders ran into a red hot Suffolk team in the first set but
calmly and methodically rebounded to easily take the next 3 sets
from the home team. Rivier's first year middle hitters played a
huge part in the victory. Nicole
Peacock (Warwick, RI) landed 9 of her 18 attacks
with just 1 error for a.444 hitting percentage
while Elizabeth
Hegarty (Brookline, NH) put down 7 of her 18
swings with no errors for a .388 hitting percentage. The duo also
combined for 3 of the Raider 5 team blocks and Peacock went off on
the serve with a match high 5 aces. Sophomore Kenna
Finlayson (Derry, NH) thumped a match high 22
kills, senior Danielle
Jacques (Derry, NH) was steady with 5 kills and
Meghan
Farrell (Marlborough, MA) came off the bench to
make a difference with 4 kills. Junior setter Lauren
Saccoccio (Warwick, RI) scored yet another
double-double with 40 assists and 10 digs and also served tough
with 2 aces. The back row trio of Emileigh
Cenedella (Townsend, MA), Caitlin
Callahan (Dedham, MA) and Jessica
Amaral (E. Providence, RI) once again were the
foundation of the Raiders win with good passing and scrappy defense
recording 37 digs and a consistent 37 for 39 on receive.
Rivier (3)
25 25 18 25
St Joseph (CT) (1) 12 12
25 13
Rivier (3) 17 25 25
25
Suffolk (1) 25 14 8
11
Rivier will take a break from their GNAC schedule and take on
cross town rival Daniel Webster College on Tuesday 10/19 at
7:00pm.
