NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier women's volleyball team snapped a two-game skid against Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) foe Saint Joseph's (Me.) (SJC) with Saturday afternoon's 3-0 victory.
With the win, the Raiders moved to 9-8 (6-2 GNAC), while the Monks fell to 10-8 (4-2 GNAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Rivier opened the match with a 4-2 lead using two kills from first-year Ashlee Salafia before extending the advantage to 10-4 behind a service ace from Mia Pento and several SJC attack errors. The Raiders continued to build their lead, moving ahead 14-8 on a kill by junior Savannah Dunne. The Monks trimmed the deficit to 14-10 however, Rivier responded by scoring seven of the next eight points, highlighted by three kills from senior Sam Driend and a service ace from sophomore Reagan Pepin, to take a 21-11 advantage. The Raiders maintained control down the stretch, with kills from Salafia and Dunne helping them reach set point at 24-12. SJC scored three straight points, but Salafia closed out the set with a kill to secure a 25-15 win.
- Rivier and the Monks battled through a competitive second set, with the Raiders tying the frame 7-7 lead after a service ace from Pepin and two Driend kill. SJC responded to move ahead 9-7, but Rivier fought back to tie the set at 10-10 on an ace by sophomore Mollie Miner. The teams continued to trade points until the Raiders used a four-point stretch, including a kill from Salafia and a service ace from junior Lily Seibel, to take a 14-12 lead. SJC rallied to tie the set at 15-15 and later 16-16, but Rivier regained the lead and extended it to 19-16. The Monks pulled even again at 19-19 before the Raiders scored six of the final nine points, including kills from Driend and Seibel and an ace from sophomore Mia Pento, to close out the set, 25-22.
- SJC took an early 5-2 lead in the third set. The Raiders pulled even at 9-9 and then scored went on a 6-1 stretch midway through the set to move ahead 16-12. The Monks cut the deficit to 17-16 before two aces from Pepin but Rivier ahead 21-16. SJC scored once more, but Rivier closed the match with four straight points, including kills from first-year Ava Pohopek and Salafia, to take the set, 25-17, and complete the 3-0 sweep.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Salafia led the team with 10 kills, followed by Driend with nine and a team-leading .250 hitting percentage.
- Seibel logged 22 assists.
- Miner and Seibel each recorded double-digit digs. Miner led the team with 15, followed by Seibel with 12.
UP NEXT
The Raiders return to the court Saturday, Oct. 17 for a non-conference match with Westfield St. The opening serve is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Muldoon Center.
