NASHUA, N.H. – After dropping the first two sets, the Rivier women's volleyball team won the final three by scores of 25-16, 25-22, 15-13 to complete the reverse sweep over Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) opponent Colby-Sawyer Tuesday evening at the Muldoon Center.
With the win, the Raiders improved to 13-8 (8-2 GNAC), while the Chargers fell to 9-14 (5-5 GNAC).
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Colby-Sawyer controlled the opening set, scoring the first four points before Rivier got on the board with a kill from first-year Ava Pohopek. The Chargers continued to build their advantage, extending the lead to 10-2 and later 15-4. The Raiders responded with a kill from senior Sam Driend and a service ace from sophomore Reagan Pepin, but Colby-Sawyer maintained its lead throughout the remainder of the frame. Rivier added late kills from juniors Lacey Turner, Driend, and Savannah Dunne, but the Chargers closed out the set with an ace, 25-11.
- Colby-Sawyer built a 10-5 lead in the second set before Rivier began to cut into the deficit. The Raiders pulled within 14-9 behind kills from first-year Ashlee Salafia, Pohopek, junior Lily Seibel and sophomore Emma Zeblisky, but the Chargers extended their advantage to 17-12. Rivier then responded with seven consecutive points, highlighted by four kills from Salafia, a kill from Seibel and a service ace from Turner, to take a 19-17 lead. Colby-Sawyer answered to tie the set at 19-19 before the Raiders regained a 21-19 advantage. The Chargers responded with five straight points to reach set point at 24-21. Rivier fought off two set points behind a Zeblisky kill and a Colby-Sawyer setting error, but the Chargers closed out the frame, 25-23, to take a 2-0 match lead.
- Rivier responded in the third set, scoring the first four points behind a pair of Salafia kills. Colby-Sawyer cut the deficit to 6-5, but the Raiders maintained their advantage and extended the lead to 14-9 behind two more Salafia kills and a service ace from first-year Brooke Braswell. The Chargers trimmed the margin to 14-11, but Rivier answered with consecutive points to move ahead 16-11. The Raiders continued to build their lead, using kills from junior Lydia Brakefield, Dunne and Driend to extend the advantage to 23-13. Colby-Sawyer scored three consecutive points late, but Rivier closed out the set, 25-16, on a Chargers attack error to force a fourth frame.
- Rivier opened the fourth set with a 3-1 lead before Colby-Sawyer battled back to tie the frame at 5-5. The Raiders regained the advantage and used consecutive service aces from Braswell to extend the lead to 10-7. Rivier maintained its advantage through the middle of the set, moving ahead 16-12 behind a Brakefield kill. The Chargers responded with four of the next five points to pull within 17-16, but the Raiders answered with kills from Dunne and Salafia to maintain their lead. Colby-Sawyer later trimmed the deficit to 21-20 before Rivier scored three consecutive points, including kills from Salafia and Turner and a block from Pohopek and Driend, to reach set point at 24-20. The Chargers fought off two set points, but Driend closed out the frame with a kill to secure a 25-22 victory and force a deciding fifth set.
- Rivier and Colby-Sawyer battled through a tightly contested fifth set, with the Raiders taking a 6-3 lead behind a Brakefield kill and three Chargers attack errors. Colby-Sawyer responded with three consecutive points to tie the frame at 6-6, and the teams continued to exchange points through a 9-9 tie. Rivier then scored three straight points, highlighted by blocks from Driend and Seibel and a Driend kill, to take a 12-9 advantage. The Chargers answered with three consecutive points, including two service aces, to tie the set at 12-12. The Raiders regained the lead on a Seibel kill before Colby-Sawyer pulled even again at 13-13. Turner then delivered a kill to give Rivier match point, and Driend followed with a service ace to secure the 15-13 victory and complete the five-set comeback.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Salafia paced the offense with 16 kills and a .406 hitting percentage.
- Seibel dished out 41 assists while contributing 13 digs and four kills.
- Sophomore Mollie Miner led the defense with 19 digs.
UP NEXT
The Raiders return to the court Saturday, Oct. 31 for Senior Day against GNAC foe Simmons. The opening serve is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. at the Muldoon Center.
