Men's Volleyball: #12 Raiders fall to #1 Springfield in NCAA Quarterfinals
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rivier (26-8) | 13 | 19 | 21 | 0 |
|
(#1) Springfield (28-2) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director
(Springfield, Mass.) The Rivier University Men's Volleyball season came to an end this evening in the NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Quarterfinals inside the Blake Arena on the campus of Springfield College. The Raiders, nationally ranked at #12, were swept by the host and overall #1 seed and team in the country Springfield College by set scores of 25-13, 25-19 and 25-21.
The loss snaps the Raiders 14-game winning streak entering the contest and the opening set loss ended Rivier's 24 consecutive set wins.
Junior setter Pedro Campos (Downey, Calif.) directed the Rivier offense with 29 assists and classmate David Smith (Clinton, Ohio) hammered down 12 kills to lead the team. Senior Khaynen Yocca (Pittsburgh, Pa.) totaled four blocks while drilling five kills and classmate Dashaun Graham (Highland Falls, N.Y.) picked up three winners and two total blocks in their final contest. Junior Cam Roth (Coventry, R.I.) and freshman Jack Normandin (Clifton Park, N.Y.) each scooped up eight digs to pace the backline effort. Junior Francis Kokoros (Braintree, Mass.) finished with eight kills and seven digs in an all-around performance.
Top-ranked Springfield was guided by Brennen Brandow who laced 19 kills and a .405 hitting percentage in leading the Pride to the Final Four. Setter Eli Gabriel Irizarry Pares handed out 30 helpers while also scooping up a game-high 13 digs.
….
This marks the end of the remarkable 2019 season by the Rivier University Men's Volleyball team. The Raiders finish the year with an overall record of 26-8, a perfect 14-0 mark against the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, winners of the regular season and conference tournament and advanced past the NCAA First Round for the first time since 2013. Campos was recognized as the GNAC Offensive Player of the Year and Head Coach Craig Kolek picked up his 500th career win and was also named the conference's Coach of the Year.