Saints Take 3-1 Victory for First Win Over Rivier Since 2014

BOSTON – After falling in the first set, Emmanuel College (5-1 GNAC) went on to win the next three and take a 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-21, 25-18) win over Rivier University (4-2 GNAC) in GNAC play on Andy Yosinoff Court Wednesday night. The win marked the first victory for the Saints over the Raiders since 2014.

The Raiders and Saints went back and forth throughout the first set. First, the Saints led 6-2 before the Raiders rattled off four straight points to level set one at 6-6. The Saints would take a 16-13 lead later in the set, only to see the score levelled once again at 16-16. Rivier would take control of the set from there, winning nine of the final 14 points for a 25-21 first set win that was topped off with a kill from Brynn Roche (Johnston, R.I.).

Looking to level the match, the Saints and Raiders traded points throughout the second set. With Emmanuel leading 16-15, the Saints were able to pick up five of the next seven points to separate themselves from the Raiders. The run included three powerful kills from Isabella Marquez (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) and Emmanuel would even the match at 1-1 with a 25-22 second set victory.

The third set began with more back and forth action before Rivier scored eight of the next nine points to take a 12-7 lead. The Saints continued to battle back, evening the score at 15. The score was still tied at 20-20 when kills from Wiktoria Galazyn (Plainville, Conn.) and Isabella Marquez helped push the Saints to a 24-20 lead. Emmanuel went on to take a 2-1 lead with a 25-21 third set victory.

The final set was all Saints. Emmanuel took the lead at 8-7 and would not trail for the remainder of the match. The 3-1 victory was capped off by the Saints winning five of the final six points. A Seana Phillips (Middleboro, Mass.) kill sealed the match with 25-18 fourth set victory.

Marquez finished with 17 kills for the Saints. The reigning GNAC Freshman and Setter of the Week, Kason Huynh (Mission Viejo, Calif.), added 19 assists and 12 digs while Galazyn put up a tie for her season high of 14 kills for Emmanuel. Lily Sills (Carlisle, Mass.) finished with 14 kills and Ryan Hicks (Danbury, Conn.) added 18 assists and 13 digs for the Raiders.

Rivier returns home Saturday (10/7) to take on St. Joseph's (ME) at 11 a.m. and Bay Path at 3 p.m. Emmanuel will face visits from Anna Maria at 10 a.m. and Albertus Magnus at 2 p.m. on Saturday (10/7).