POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – The Marist volleyball team was swept by the Rider Broncs on Saturday afternoon. Although each set went into overtime, the Red Foxes were not able to pull out a victory.
With the loss, the Red Foxes fall to 9-12 on the season, and 7-4 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference play. Meanwhile, the Broncs improve to 10-13 overall, and are now tied with the Red Foxes in the conference with a 7-4 record.
- Marist got off to a quick start, pulling out to an early 7-4 lead. The Broncs responded with a 4-0 run, with two kills from Ali Ward, to take an 8-7 advantage. Rider would extend its lead to 21-18, but the Red Foxes would not quit. They used a 4-0 run of their own to re-take a 22-21 lead, but then both teams would trade points until the match was tied at 25, and heading into overtime. The set remained tied at 27, but then a kill and a block from Ward would seal a 29-27 set victory for the Broncs.
- Rider rode the hot hand of Morgan Romano early in the second set, and opened on an 8-1 run. Marist called for timeout to try and regroup, and they did just that. The Red Foxes slowly clawed their way back into the set point by point, leading to a tie at 22. For the second straight set, the two teams went into overtime. After a tie at 24, back-to-back kills from Morgan Koch and Romano clinched the second set for the Broncs.
- The same theme continued into the third set, as Marist fought and battled to take Rider into overtime, but fell just short again. The teams basically traded points the whole set, and they were eventually deadlocked at 27. Evelyn Shanefield and Ward crushed two kills in a row, giving Rider a 29-27 win. And after falling in three straight sets in overtime, the Red Foxes fell to the Broncs, 3-0.
- Megan Fergus led the way for the Red Foxes with a team-high 13 kills. She also added five digs, four total blocks, and a service ace. Madelyn Waumans joined Fergus in double-figures with 10 kills.
- Sarah Austin had a solid all-around performance, falling one kill shy of a double-double with nine kills and 14 digs.
- McKinley Fox led Marist with 33 assists, while Sophia Theriot matched the team-high with 14 digs.
- Romano had a match-high 21 kills, leading the way for Rider. The Broncs' setter Anilee Sher had a match-high 41 assists commanding the offense.
The Red Foxes are back in action tomorrow at McCann Arena against the Saint Peter's Peacocks. Celebrate Halloween with us in McCann by wearing your best costumes to the match. The best costumes will have a chance to win a $25 gift card to Lola's. First serve is set for 1 p.m.
