Men's Volleyball: Raiders earn first GNAC win; sweep JWU 3-0

(Providence, R.I.) The Rivier University Men's Volleyball team opened up Great Northeast Athletic Conference play this evening with a convincing three-set win at Johnson and Wales University. The win lifts the Raiders over the .500 mark at 6-5 overall on the season and 1-0 in conference action while the Wildcats fall to 3-7 overall, 0-1 inside GNAC competition.

The Raiders earned the win by set scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-20.

Senior Grant Andler (Chicago, Ill.) led the offensive attack for Rivier with a game-high 12 kills while junior Dashaun Graham (Highland Falls, N.Y.) continues his torrid start to the year with an 8-kill, .538 hitting percentage and 5 total block effort. Senior Garrett Bucklin (Jamestown, R.I.) dished out 33 assists while also accumulating six total blocks and junior Dahnny Rogers (Penfield, N.Y.) scooped up 14 digs along the back line. Both junior Khayen Yocca (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and sophomore David Smith (Clinton, Ohio) added eight kills each in the win.

Johnson and Wales saw junior Donovan Kelley (Encinitas, Calif.) led the team with seven kills on the evening with sophomore Nick Bitetto (East Northport, N.Y.) and junior Cameron Ponce (San Jose, Calif.) collecting 10 digs apiece.

Rivier will remain in GNAC action when they return to the court on Thursday night as they travel to #11 Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston, Mass. for a 7pm start.