RAIDERS STOP WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL IN GNAC QUARTERFINALS, 3-0
NASHUA, N.H. - The No. 2 seeded Rivier University Women’s Volleyball team advanced to their 14th consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals with a 3-0 win over visiting No. 7 seeded Emmanuel College in the GNAC Quarterfinal matchup this evening inside the Muldoon Gymnasium.
NASHUA, N.H. - The No. 2 seeded Rivier University Women's Volleyball team advanced to their 14th consecutive Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals with a 3-0 win over visiting No. 7 seeded Emmanuel College in the GNAC Quarterfinal matchup this evening inside the Muldoon Gymnasium. The win sets a new program record for the Raiders as they are 30-3, the first 30 win season in school history, while Emmanuel finishes the 2016 campaign with an 11-22 overall record.
Rivier advances after taking the three sets by scores of 26-24, 25-19 and 25-18.
Senior Lauren Silverman (Chelmsford, Mass.) paved the way for the Raiders as she had 13 kills, a .579 hitting percentage and eight total blocks. Classmate Dana Mott (Medway, Mass.) also registered 13 kills on the evening and senior Molly McCormack (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) contributed with five kills and 13 digs. Sophomore Hayley Macken (Clifton Park, N.Y.) guided the Radier offense with 35 assists and junior libero Bethany Trevino (Westminster, Colo.) controlled the back line with 19 digs.
The Saints were led by senior Cassie Chruscielski (Duluth, Minn.) who had five kills and both freshman Marissa Cataldo (Melrose, Mass.) and senior Kaitlyn Atkinson (Brookline, N.H.) added four kills apiece. Freshman Samantha DeMarco (Rockland, Mass.) dished out a team high nine assists with sophomore Carly Church (Higganum, Conn.) providing additional help with 6 assists. Senior Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif.) led the defensive efforts with 17 digs.
Up next will be a Semifinal contest here inside the Muldoon on Thursday evening against #3 Anna Maria College. The AMCATS (21-10 overall) enter the semifinals after eliminating #6 Saint Joseph's College (Maine) in five sets. Game time is set for 7pm.
GNAC Quarterfinal Final Scores:
#1 Johnson & Wales (31-0) def. #8 Suffolk (11-16), 3-0
#2 Rivier (30-3) def. #7 Emmanuel (11-22), 3-0
#3 Anna Maria (21-10) def. #6 Saint Joseph's – Me. (12-13), 3-2
#4 Simmons (12-11) def. #5 Lasell (12-19), 3-1
GNAC Semifinal Matchups (11/3):
#1 Johnson & Wales vs. #4 Simmons – 7pm @ Providence, R.I.
#2 Rivier vs. #3 Anna Maria – 7pm @ Nashua, N.H.
*Release courtesy of Rivier University Sports Information Dept.