Men's Volleyball: #13 Rivier tops #7 Kean & Regis in Saturday Tri-Match

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Men's Volleyball team earned their second consecutive win over #7 Kean University as they went on to win both ends of their non-conference tri-match inside the Muldoon Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. The Raiders played a match for the ages against Kean and was able to edge the visiting Cougars 15-12 in the fifth set before sweeping Regis College in the day's final game. Kean defeated Regis, 3-1 in the middle match at the 'Doon.

Game One: #13 Rivier University 3, #7 Kean University 2 (Final)

The first time these two AVCA Top-15 programs met, the Raiders were able to sweep the Cougars in straight sets. This afternoon the Cougars went looking for revenge and pushed the Raiders to the brink however Rivier was able to capture the final three points for a tough five set win.

The Raiders took the five sets by scores of 25-22, 21-25, 25-21, 22-25 and 15-12.

Junior Grant Andler (Chicago, Ill.) was dominate on the offensive front for Rivier as he led the team with 17 kills and classmate Matt Heckler (Simi Valley, Calif.) added 15 kills in the win. In total five Raiders reached double-digits in kills as sophomore Khaynen Yocca (Pittsburgh, Pa.) contributed with 13 while senior Ian Wolski (Westfield, Mass.) and freshman Cam Roth (Coventry, R.I.) chipped in with 10 kills apiece. Senior setter Matt LaSance (Madison, Conn.) recorded 61 assists as he directed the Raider offense and junior libero Garrett Bucklin (Jamestown, R.I.) collected 16 digs along the back line.

Kean, who dropped back-to-back games for the second time this season, was led by freshman Dylan Flor's (Quakertown, Pa.) 18-kill, .533 hitting percentage performance. Classmate Steven Zarzycki (Rochester, N.Y.) provided a solid effort with 16 kills of his own and junior Kevin Barrow (Bloomfield, N.J.) dished out 44 assists and totaled six blocks (five block solos) to defend along the net. In the back court, junior Nick Brelsin (Massapequa, N.Y.) led the team with nine digs.

Game Two: #7 Kean University 3, Regis College 1 (Final)

The Cougars bounced back and was able to defeat Regis College in four sets to finish off their trip to New England. Kean took the game by scores of 26-24, 25-13, 23-25 and 25-17.

Zarzycki was the kill leader in this one for the Cougars as he complied 13 kills to go along with his .526 hitting percentage. Ian Capp directed the offense with 40 assists and recorded eight service aces while Breslin once again paced the back line defensive effort with seven digs.

Regis was led by junior Marcos Aguirre (Norwalk, Conn.), who had the team-high of eleven kills and senior Sean Bisnett (Oxnard, Calif.) chipped in with eight kills and eight digs on the four set match. Senior Joe Hanrahan (Coventry, R.I.) accumulated 34 helpers for the Pride.

Kean finishes the day with an 11-5 overall record.

Game Three: #13 Rivier University 3, Regis College 0 (Final)

The Raiders capped off the day's events with a three set win over Regis. Rivier, who are now over .500 at 6-5 on the season, took the match by set scores of 25-23, 32-30 and 25-21.

Andler and Roth once again paved the way for the Raiders as they combined for 25 of the team's 47 kills. Sophomore Dashaun Graham (Highland Falls, N.Y.) played well on the afternoon as he totaled six kills and three total blocks and Wolski finished with eight kills. LaSance supplied the offense with 43 assists and five service aces.

For Regis, Augirre was the kill leader with ten and Bisnett totaled eight on the afternoon. Hanrahan passed out 33 assists and junior Christopher Fitta (Warwick, R.I.) amassed twelve digs.

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Next up for Rivier will be a trip to Utica, N.Y. for the SUNY Poly Invitational next weekend. The Raiders will square off with Arcadia on Friday night before taking on Elmira and SUNY Poly on Saturday.