November 9, 2006 - Loyola-MD 3 Rider 0
November 9, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Women’s College Volleyball
Loyola College 3, Rider University 0
LAWRENCEVILLE—With the ‘magic’ of the magic kingdom just a week away, the Broncs could not muster any on Thursday night, falling to Loyola College in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference match.
The Greyhounds beat Rider 30-28, 30-19, 30-27.
“We were trying a few new lineups tonight,” said head coach Emily Ahlquist whose team has now dropped eight straight. “We are trying to find the right combinations as we head to the conference championships next week in Orlando.”
Rider and the other nine MAAC schools head to Disney World and the Magic Kingdom for the double-elimination championship beginning November 16.
For Rider, sophomore Lacey Johnson (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) had a ‘double-double’ with 13 digs and 10 kills with freshman Amy Jeary (Depew, N.Y./St. Mary’s) adding 23 digs.
“Offensively, the new lineups worked well,” Ahlquist added. “But we looked out of synch and with all of the matches the last two weeks, our lack of practice time has shown in the last few matches.”
“We’ve kind of lost focus,” said Johnson who now has 21 ‘double-doubles’ in her career, including 14 this season. “We just haven’t been able to battle out of the hole. It hasn’t been six players working together on the court and when we work together, we play well, when we don’t, a result like tonight happens.”
Senior Megan Smith (Webster, N.Y./Webster) added 15 kills for the Broncs.
“In the last eight matches, we’ve had to play catch up,” Johnson added. “The other team dictates play when they get a lead and tries shots and takes chances that they normally wouldn’t and that takes you out of your game, having to expend so much energy trying to battle back.”
“Loyola is a tough team to play,” said Ahlquist. “They battle and scrap for every shot and get to balls that you shouldn’t be able to get to.”
“You only get one chance in four years to visit Disney,” Johnson added. “We’ve played well in spots and if we can get things together, we expect to go into the tournament with a chance to surprise some teams.”
Rider (7-19, 5-12 MAAC) hosts Iona on Saturday in the final regular season match and will honor senior Megan Smith prior to the match as part of senior day before looking to find the ‘magic’ of the Magic Kingdom.
-RU-
