October 1, 2006 - Siena 3 Rider 0
October 1, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Volleyball
Siena College 3, Rider University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE—On and off the court, it’s all about communication. On a day when the Broncs communicated with the past to setup the future, that effort didn’t make it to the court as Rider lost to Siena in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match Sunday.
The Broncs lost in three games on Alumni Day in Alumni Gym, with the Saints winning by scores of 30-26, 30-25, 30-23.
“Siena is a very good ball club but we did not compete very well,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist. “They serve tough and they are big but we are disappointed with the overall effort. You may lose to a team that is more athletic but you can always control your effort and intensity and we did in spots but not through out the match.”
The Saints (10-8) are still perfect in MAAC play with a 6-0 record.
“We did not make that many physical errors which you have less control over,” Ahlquist added. “We made way too many communication errors and in a team sport like volleyball, a good club is going to take full advantage of your mistakes and Siena did today.”
For Rider (5-10, 3-3 MAAC), sophomore Lacey Johnson (Aurora, CO/Grandview) had eight kills and a team-high 18 digs.
“I just think we need to be more consistent,” said Johnson. “We came out with a lot of intensity but didn’t help each other and communicate very well. We have work more as one unit and help each other out more. When we do that, we’ve been successful.”
Freshman Alex Chapla (Aliquippa, PA/Center Area) had a match-high 15 kills, and freshman JoAnna Winter (Hamburg, MN) compiled 31 assists.
“We just need time to work together and get comfortable with each other,” said Ahlquist. “The more we play together, the better we are going to be. The conference is wide open; no team is that far ahead of everyone else. There are 10 good teams in the league, Rider included and the players need to realize that with their talent and ability, they just need to work together every point of every game and not most of the time. We just have to learn to communicate more and compete more on a consistent level. We have done that in spots this year but we need to do it more consistently.”
Junior Katrina Stehle (Greensburg, PA/Hempfield) had five kills and nine digs, senior Megan Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster) added eight kills and freshman Amy Jeary (Depew, NY/St. Mary’s) added 15 digs.
“Siena played very hard today,” Johnson added. “They served well and played tough but we could have done better. When we work together and not as six individuals on the court, we will be more successful. And we need to do that each match.”
Over 150 fans, parents and alumni were in the stands as the Broncs held Alumni Day.
“As a team, having the alumni come back is great for the current players,” Ahlquist added. “On a personal level, I love speaking with our alumni to hear about their experiences at Rider and with the volleyball program. For the players, it is an important event to connect with their past, with former student-athletes and now adults who went through the ups and downs that they are currently going through. It could evolve into a connection for an internship, or just be someone else in the Rider family that they can turn to for advice or guidance. And since they have been down the road the players are currently traveling, the communication with the alumni is invaluable.”
Included in the group of Rider graduates returning for the Alumni festivities were Rider Hall of Famer Kaithy Weiss Hallam, assistant coach Michelle Peel Walsh, Stefanie Lombardo, Kalli Young-Cole, Kim Robins, Jennifer Hartung Bartsch, Laura Berger Luzzi, Steph VanLoon Douglass, Kristine Dormer, Jaclyn Levi, Embrey Minor, Christina Rogers, Lauren Niewender, Melissa Greene Bollman, Jenn Drummond, Amy Householder Leslie, Gillian Gemming Matos, Evette Hoeffner and Danielle McBride, along with former coach and current Senior Woman’s Administrator, Nancy Roberts.
“As a group, our alumni have been very good to the program,” Ahlquist added. “When the current players graduate, we will welcome them back the same way.”
After experiencing how important open lines of communication are, both on and off the court, the Broncs return to action hosting Saint Peter’s Friday and Marist Saturday in a pair of MAAC matches.
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