Women's Volleyball earns a pair of wins at Western Conn. State Invite

(Danbury, Conn.) The Rivier University Women's Volleyball team took a pair of wins home with them this weekend at the Western Connecticut State University Invitational in Danbury, Connecticut. They were able to defeat both Brandeis University and Purchase State before falling to the hosts, WCSU in a five set thriller.

Game One: Rivier University 3, Brandeis University 1 (Final)

The Raiders were able to open their 2014 season with a hard fought 3-1 victory over Brandeis University, winning by scores of 25-23, 25-12, 21-25 and 25-23.

Junior Emily O'Reilly (San Francisco, Calif.) directed the Rivier offense as she dished out 42 assists and added 2 kills. Sophomore Lauren Silverman (Chelmsford, Mass.) laced 11 kills and recorded a .611 hitting percentage in the contest while classmate Molly McCormack (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) chipped in with 10 kills and 15 digs. Freshman Bethany Trevino (Westminster, Colo.) was the team leader with 22 digs and sophomore Dana Mott (Medway, Mass.) provided 8 kills in the four set win.

Brandeis was led by Maddie Engeler and Jessie Moore who each had 10 kills.

Game Two: Rivier University 3, Purchase State University 0 (Final)

Rivier earned their second win in as many games as they swept Purchase State, 3-0 in the first game of their double-header. The Raiders took the three sets by scores of 25-17, 25-17 and 25-11.

McCormack once again led the offensive attack as she recorded a 450 hitting percentage with 10 kills. Sophomore Chelsey Hussey (Lebanon, Conn.) knocked down 5 kills as well for Rivier. O'Reilly registered 23 assists and freshman Madison Soucy (Tolland, Conn.) was the dig leader with 9.

Purchase State saw Sarah Gabler record 7 kills and Emily Sabo obtain the game high of 14 digs.

Game Three: Western Connecticut State University 3, Rivier University 2 (Final)

Trailing the host institution, Western Connecticut State University 2-1 in the fourth set, the Raiders were able to force a decisive fifth set but was unable to obtain victory as the Colonials held on for the 3-2 win. Rivier fell by scores of 20-25, 25-19, 21-25, 25-23 and 8-15.

McCormack was at the forefront of the offense again as she hammered down 14 kills over the five sets. Mott was right behind her with 11 kills and Silverman had 7 kills for Rivier. O'Reilly collected 46 assists and Trevino recorded an outstanding 37 digs. Both McCormack and Soucy had 12 digs each in the loss.

Western Connecticut was paced by Karissa Smith, who had the game high of 16 kills.

Note: This was the first match-up between Rivier and WCSU since Don Ferguson '00 took the helm of the Colonials Women's program. Ferguson was named to the NECVA 2nd Team in his senior season and was also an assistant coach under Craig Kolek with the Men's Volleyball program which won three consecutive NECVA New England Championships (2001-03).

The Women's Volleyball team will return to action next weekend as they travel to Springfield, Massachusetts for the Springfield College Invitational. They will open up on Friday night (9/5) against Westfield State University.