November 2, 2006 - Smith October Athlete of the Month

November 2, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rider Athletes of the Month
Soccer’s Riverso, Volleyball’s Smith

LAWRENCEVILLE—Dan Riverso of the soccer team, and Megan Smith of the volleyball team, have been named the Rider University Athletes of the Month for October.

Riverso (Williamstown), who was recently named the second team All-Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference goalkeeper, made 39 saves and allowed 11 goals in eight games for the Broncs in October. He compiled two shutouts and was named both the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week. “He was still at top form at the end of the year,” said soccer head coach Russ Fager. “Even with the year we had he still worked hard and played hard.”

Smith (Webster, NY) compiled 147 kills and 30 blocks in October, with a hitting percentage of .273 and an average of 4.96 points per game. “This is a great honor,” said volleyball head coach Emily Ahlquist.  “Megan had a great month.”

Smith reached the 1,000 career kill plateau in October and was named the MAAC Player of the Week.  She currently ranks fifth in the MAAC in kills and ninth in kill percentage. “Megan has really stepped up her game and her leadership, on and off the court,” said Ahlquist. “It’s a testament to what she has done, in October and her entire senior year.”

Riverso leads the MAAC with 91 saves this season and is third in the MAAC in shutouts with four.

“He’s the best keeper in the conference, hands down,” said Fager. “I’m just very pleased that at the end of the year the team was able to play well in front of him, and get him the kind of recognition he deserves.

In his final collegiate game Riverso shutout Manhattan for his tenth career shutout. “He’s been a mainstay for us for three years,” Fager said.

-RU-