Women's Volleyball: Macken, Raiders finish in second at Springfield Invitational

(Springfield, Mass.) The Rivier University Women's Volleyball team began their 2017 season this past weekend by finishing in second place at the Springfield College Invitational in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Raiders were defeated on Friday night by the hosts, Springfield College in straight sets before riffling off a pair of victories on Saturday over Westfield State University (W, 3-0) and Skidmore College (W, 3-1). The two wins set up a rematch with the Pride in which Springfield won 3-0.

Junior setter Hayley Macken (Clifton Park, N.Y.) was selected to the All-Tournament Team after totaling 107 assists (8.92 assists per set average) with 32 digs and 5 total blocks over the Raiders' four games. In the team's 3-1 win over Skidmore College, Macken was dominate as she controlled the offensive attack with 52 assists and helped on the defensive end as she collected 17 digs and three total blocks.

Freshman Julia Zargaj (Groveland, Mass.) busted onto the scene this weekend as the first-year middle hitter registered a team high 34 kills and 10 total blocks. She tallied 15 kills and five total blocks in the win over Skidmore while also collecting 13 kills in the 3-0 win over Westfield State. Sophomore Taylor Dunster (Sutton, Mass.) was just as good as Zargaj over the four games. Dunster recorded 33 kills and six total blocks while scooping up a team high 55 digs in her 12 sets played.

Rivier (2-2) will return to action next weekend as they participate in the Granite State Challenge. On Friday night (Sept. 8) they'll travel to Plymouth State to square off with Keene State & New England College before traveling to Keene on Saturday for a pair of contests against Plymouth State and Colby-Sawyer.