Women's Volleyball finishes Regular Season with sweep of Emmaunel

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Women's Volleyball team wrapped up the 2015 regular season this afternoon with a three set win over Emmanuel College in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action. The Raiders defeated the Saints, who entered the season as the Pre-Season favorite in the GNAC Coaches Poll, by scores of 25-14, 25-17 and 25-22.

Rivier finishes the season unblemished in the conference at 11-0 and are now 26-5 overall. Emmanuel falls to 11-15 overall and 8-3 in the GNAC.

Prior to the start of the game, the Raiders honored their three seniors who played in their final regular season home game. Jackie Pisecco (Chelmsford, Mass.), Lyndsey Sweeney (Coventry, R.I.) and Emily O'Reilly (San Francisco, Calif.) were all a vital part of the overall success of the program over the last four seasons. A 43-2 GNAC record, including two GNAC Championships and two NCAA appearances to go along with an outstanding 105-30 overall record, make these three seniors some of the most successful players in Rivier Women's Volleyball history.

As for the game, Rivier junior Lauren Silverman (Chelmsford, Mass.) hammered down 13 kills and a .500 hitting percentage to led the team to victory. Classmate Molly McCormack (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) also hit the double-digit kill mark with 10 and had another double-double with 13 digs. O'Reilly dished out 39 assists on the afternoon with sophomore Bethany Trevino (Westminster, Colo.) totaling a team high 17 digs along the back line. Pisecco finished the game with seven kills and Sweeney had two digs.

Junior middle hitter Kaitlyn Atkinson (Brookline, N.H.) led the attack for Emmanuel as she knocked down six kills over her three sets played. Freshman Mary Shelow (Miami, Fla.) added five kills as did classmate Angleica Czercowy (Hebron, Conn.). Senior Shannon Dudley (Morro Bay, Calif.) handed out 22 assists and junior Sarah Schemerhorn (Los Angeles, Calif.) totaled 10 digs to lead the team.

Once again the road to the NCAA Tournament will run through Nashua as the Raiders have secured the overall #1 seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament which begins next Tuesday night. This is also just the second time in the history of the Women's Volleyball program that the Raiders went through GNAC play without a loss. The first time was just two seasons ago in 2013. The top seeded Raiders will host eighth seeded Mount Ida College in the GNAC Quarterfinals. Game time is set for 7pm on Tuesday evening.

Emmanuel has earned the fourth seed and will host fifth seeded Anna Maria on Tuesday night at 7pm.