WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Anna Maria falls to Rivier on Senior Night

THE BASICS:

- Score: Rivier University 3, Anna Maria College 1 (25-12, 25-13, 24-26, 25-14)

- Records: Rivier (16-8, 8-2 GNAC), Anna Maria (4-18, 1-8 GNAC)

- Location: Paxton, Mass. (Fuller Activities Center)

- The Lead: Sophomore Taylor Dunster (Sutton, Mass.) recorded a match-high 17 kills and added 14 digs Thursday evening as Rivier University defeated Anna Maria College, 3-1, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's volleyball match at the Fuller Activities Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-Seniors for both teams were honored before the match, including Anna Maria seniors Rebecca Foti (Bedford, N.H.) and Kerri Earle (Bethel, Conn.)

After an early 3-3 tie in the first set, Rivier exploded with 13 of the next 14 points to open up a 16-4 advantage. Senior Erin Rosa (Cumberland, R.I.) and sophomore Jess Whyte (Plymouth, Mass.) had two kills each in the rally. Anna Maria never recovered and the Raiders took the opening set, 25-12.

-The visitors took control of the second set early on, opening up an 8-1 lead after three kills by Dunster. Anna Maria came back to pull to within five points (11-6) after three kills by Foti but Rivier took eight of the next nine to push the margin to 19-7. The Raiders went on to a 25-13 verdict in the second set.

-The AMCATS hung tough and held their own in the third set, taking leads of 6-2 and 9-5. Rivier came back to tie the set at 14-14, and it was tied again at 18-18. The Raiders were on the verge of a 3-0 sweep, leading 24-22, but Anna Maria would not go down easily, and took four consecutive points to pull out a 26-24 victory in the third set.

-Rivier had an early 6-3 lead in the fourth set and rattled off eight unanswered points for a 14-3 margin, including four kills by Dunster. Anna Maria got as close as eight points (17-9) but Rivier proved too strong and closed out the match with a 25-14 triumph in the fourth set.

Stat Leaders

-Rivier used a balanced attack, with 12 players recording at least one kill. Rosa was the next highest offensive player after Dunster with seven kills. Junior setter Hayley Macken (Clifton Park, N.Y.) made 17 set assists and reserve setter Katherine Antczak (Salem, N.H.) added 24 set assists. Senior Bethany Trevino (Westminster, CO) and freshman Julianna Byington (Bedford, Mass.) recorded three service aces each.

-Trevino topped the Raiders with 21 digs, while Antczak matched Dunster with 14 digs. Rosa was strong at the net for the visitors with four blocks.

-Foti led the home team with 12 kills and 15 digs, and Earle contributed 19 set assists and 12 digs. Juniors Victoria Falco (Marlborough, Mass.) and Hannah Mitchell (Pittsfield, Mass.) shared team-high honors with two aces each, and Mitchell had two solo blocks at the net.

UP NEXT:

-Anna Maria heads to Boston on Saturday, Oct. 21, to take on Simmons College in an 11:00 a.m. GNAC match-up.

-Rivier travels to Hartford, Conn., this Saturday, Oct. 21, to face the University of Saint Joseph in a GNAC match (11:00 a.m.) and Gordon College in a non-conference encounter (1:00 p.m.)

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