Rider Broncs Capture Program’s First MAAC Volleyball Championship

Rider Broncs Capture Program’s First MAAC Volleyball Championship

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Rider University – 3 | Canisius College – 1
2020-21 MAAC Volleyball Championship – Championship Game
Albany Capital Center | Albany, NY

Fourth-seeded Rider University (7-4, 4-4 MAAC) claimed the 2020-21 MAAC Volleyball Championship with a 3-1 (25-20, 29-27, 22-25, 26-24) win over second-seeded Canisius College (9-4, 7-3 MAAC). It was Rider University’s first appearance in the MAAC Volleyball Championship. As MAAC Champions, Rider receives an automatic bid to the 2021 NCAA Volleyball Tournament. The Broncs will find out who they will face on Sunday, April 4, during the NCAA Selection Show at 4:00 p.m. on ESPNU. First Round games are scheduled for April 14. For more information on NCAA Volleyball, visit NCAA.com.
 
Rider Notes
  • Rider was able to claim its program’s first MAAC Volleyball Championship in the program’s first appearance in the championship game.
  • Anilee Sher turned in her second 50-plus assist game of the tournament with 58 on the day, one-off of her career-high. Sher also had 15 digs and six aces.
  • Rider was able to break a 9-9 tie in the first set and rattled off four-straight points, highlighted by Sher’s back-to-back aces. After taking a 13-9 lead, the Broncs never lost the lead again and were able to take the first set 25-20.
  • Morgan Romano led the match in kills with 24 and had a match-high 64 attacks.
  • Tied at 27-27 in the second set, Romano was able to register two-straight kills to take the set 29-27 and put the Broncs up 2-0 in the match.
  • Danielle Blanco had a team-high 24 digs.
  • Finding themselves down 16-24 in the third set, the Broncs were able to fend off six-straight set points by Canisius before ultimately dropping the set 25-22.
  • Jillian Chan had a team-high hitting percentage at .444.
  • Up 25-24 in the fourth set, Chan was able to ace Canisius and give Rider the 26-24 set win to claim the MAAC Championship.
Canisius Notes
  • Bree Long was the match leader in digs with 26. Ashley Kekeisen recorded 19 digs and Hannah Nelson added 13 digs.
  • Ella Loussia (19) and Nelson (10) were the two Griffs to tally double-digit kills.
  • After dropping the first two sets the Griffs mounted a strong third set jumping out to an early 7-2 lead. Canisius was able to increase the lead to 18-8 before ultimately winning the set 25-22 and forcing a fourth set.
  • Camila Vazquez had a match-high 6.0 blocks.
Rider University’s Anilee Sher was named the 2020-21 MAAC Volleyball Championship Most Valuable Player. She finished the tournament with 144 assists, 34 digs, 14 points, eight aces, and four kills in her three games.

Keep up with all MAAC volleyball action by following @MAACSports on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and by searching #MAACVB. For championship information, visit MAACSports.com/VB.
 
About the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference:
With 11 institutions strongly bound by the sound principles of quality and integrity in academics and excellence in athletics, the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) celebrates its 40th year of competition during the 2020-21 academic year. Current conference members include: Canisius College, Fairfield University, Iona College, Manhattan College, Marist College, Monmouth University, Niagara University, Quinnipiac University, Rider University, Saint Peter’s University, and Siena College.