Siena (16-11, 5-2 MAAC) swept Rider in the final home match of the 2005 season, and the final home match for four graduating seniors, by the scores of 30-22, 30-26 and 30-18. It was the Saints fifth straight victory.

“We were a little flat today,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “A lot of emotion came out yesterday with that win over Marist. It was disappointing to go out this way at home, but we will always hold our heads up.”

After the loss, the Broncs were disappointed in their inconsistent efforts. They seem to play better when having fun for special occasions, like yesterday’s Senior Day.

“I don’t know why we can’t focus the way we do when we have a special occasion all the time,” said senior Embrey Minor. “The whole team is frustrated about it.  It’s not a coaching thing because you can’t coach desire or heart.”

Minor (Davidsonville, Md./Bowie) had 14 assists, three service aces and nine digs. Minor is three digs away from 1,000 for her career. The Broncs have two more road games next weekend where Minor can reach that milestone.

“For me, that’ll be the culmination of the year,” said Minor who is a 5-3 defensive specialist. “It means a lot. It’s kind of like ‘in your face,’ for all those people who said I could never play Division I volleyball because [of my] size.”

Also for Rider, freshman Lacey Johnson (Aurora, CO/Grandview) had 14 digs, sophomore Nastasja Avramovic (Philadelphia, Pa./Northeast) had 11 digs and senior Stefanie Lombardo (New Castle, Pa./Laurel) added 10 digs.

Rider travels to Western New York next weekend to finish the 2005 season against MAAC opponents Canisius and Niagara.

The seniors took some extra time leaving Alumni Gymnasium after today’s loss. Minor, Lombardo, Jennifer Drummond, and Kristine Dormer got to compete in their home confines for the last time.

“There are many good memories here,” said Minor. “We don’t want to leave. It’s time to move on, but it’s hard to leave.”

-RU-