Men's Volleyball: Raiders suffer loss to Mustangs, 1-3.

Story written and posted by Hayden Barbosa, Rivier University Assistant Sports Information Director

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Raiders Men's Volleyball team suffered their first loss of the season against the Mustangs of Stevenson University, 1-3.  The final scores were 25-18, 22-25, 21-25 & 24-26. 

The two nationally ranked programs certainly did not disappoint those in attendance last night as each match was a tenacious back-and-forth.  Out of the four sets the first was the best performance for the Raiders as it finished with a difference of seven points.  The Raiders came out strong at one point rallying a 6-1 run and then coming to an end with a kill by sophomore Sokunbuth Ly (Lowell, Mass) assisted by senior Pedro Campos (Downey, Cali.).  The following three sets all finished within four point margins. 

The Raiders attack was led by David Smith (Clinton, OH) who dropped 16 kills and one ace.  Other leaders included Sokunbuth Ly with 11 kills on 22 attempts hitting at .318 and Kristjan Cortez with 10 kills and Francis Kokoros (Braintree, Mass.) 

with nine kills.  Campos collected 48 assists and two kills.  

On the defensive side the Raiders showed some fight.  Smith led the team with 8 digs and 4 blocks.  Kokoros tallied three digs and two blocks, while Campos collected four digs and sophomore Jack Hromada chipped in with three digs.  Up next for the Raiders will be the No. 1 nationally ranked Hawks of SUNY New Paltz tonight at 6PM.  New Paltz (6-2) is coming off of a two 3-2 losses against Vassar College (8-2) and Springfield College (8-1).