POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – The Rivier women's volleyball team defeated Western Connecticut State University (WestConn), 3-2 (25-22, 25-18, 20-25, 23-25, 15-12), Saturday afternoon at Kenyon Hall.
With the result the Raiders improved to 1-3, while the Wolves fell to 0-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- WestConn opened with a 3-0 lead before junior Savannah Dunne put Rivier on the board with an assist from classmate Lily Seibel. The Wolves extended their advantage to 6-1, but the Raiders answered with kills from senior Sam Driend, sophomore Fiona Rexford, first-year Ashlee Salafia, and first-year Ava Pohopek to pull within 9-6. Rivier continued to chip away, with Dunne and Driend providing kills as the Raiders eventually tied the set at 21-21. Driend registered three kills down the stretch to help take set 1, 25-22.
- WestConn scored the first two points, but Rivier responded with six straight points to take a 6-2 lead. The Wolves rallied to tie the set at 6-6 before the Raiders regained control behind kills from Salafia, Driend and Pohopek to lead 14-10. WestConn closed within two, but Rivier maintained its advantage and moved ahead 18-14 on a kill from Seibel. The Wolves used a pair of kills to trim the deficit to three at 19-16, before a pair of bad sets helped Rivier extend its lead to 21-16. Driend and Dunne added late kills, and Pohopek closed the set, 25-18, on a dish from Seibel.
- WestConn once again took an early set lead, opening with a 5-0 run. The Raiders countered with kills from Rexford and Dunne however, a 5-0 Wolves stretch put them in front 13-4. Rivier answered by tallying the next nine of 11 points, closing the gap, 15-13. Despite several runs down the stretch, WestConn's early separation put the set out of reach, bringing the contest to a fourth set.
- The Raiders got out to an early in the fourth, taking a 3-0 lead as a result of two attacking errors and a service ace from Seibel. The Wolves quickly countered, scoring the next six of eight points to take a 6-5 set lead. Driend, Pohopek and Salafia put Rivier ahead 11-7. WestConn chipped away at the Raiders' lead and then propelled themselves ahead, 20-17, thanks to a 5-0 run. Both teams traded points until a trifecta of errors forced a fifth and deciding set.
- Rivier came out quickly, opening with a 4-0 lead. The Wolves worked their way back into the set, eventually tying it 6-6. The Raiders went on a 5-0 run in the middle of the frame, putting the set out of reach and sealing the match, 15-12.
BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN
- Driend and Dunne led the offense with 15 and 11 kills, respectively.
- Seibel contributed 40 assists as well as a match-best .875 hitting percentage.
- Four different Raiders logged double-digit digs, with sophomore Mollie Miner leading the charge with 15. Seibel added 14 and Driend and junior Lacey Turner recorded 11 apiece.
UP NEXT
The Rivier women's volleyball team return to the court Thursday, Sept. 10 for a non-conference road match with Framingham St. The opening serve is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Logan Gymnasium.
