Women's Volleyball: Dunster, Raiders take two from Lasell & Rhode Island College

(Nashua, N.H.) The Rivier University Women's Volleyball team was able to swipe two victories this afternoon as they hosted a tri-match at the Muldoon Gymnasium with Lasell College and Rhode Island College. The Raiders battled the Lasers to a 3-1 win in the team's opening Great Northeast Athletic Conference contest of the season before sweeping RIC in the night cap. RIC swept Lasell in the afternoon's middle match.

Rivier improves to 8-3 overall on the season while RIC slides to 6-5 and Lasell falls to 3-7.

Game One: Rivier University 3, Lasell College 1 (Final)

The Lasers came out firing on all cylinders as they pushed the young Rivier squad in each set but ultimately the Raiders came out victorious by set scores of 25-18, 18-25, 25-21 and 25-22.

Sophomore Taylor Dunster (Sutton, Mass.) led the charge for Rivier as she laced a team high 17 kills and scooped up 19 digs in a double-double effort. Freshman Julia Zargaj (Groveland, Mass.) collected nine kills of her own to go along with her four total blocks and senior libero Bethany Trevino (Westminster, Colo.) was the defensive leader with 20 digs. Junior Hayley Macken (Clifton Park, N.Y.) directed the offensive attack with 36 assists and also helped along the net with four total blocks. Senior Madison Soucy (Tolland, Conn.) also picked up 15 digs in the four set win.

Lasell got a big-time performance from freshman Mickayla Shelburn (Waterford, Conn.) as she swung the tune of a .400 hitting percentage with 10 kills and a block assist. Junior Olivia Addington (Orange, Calif.) also shined bright as she reached the double-double figure of 10 kills, 11 digs while also registering three total blocks. Senior Taylor Tiezzi (Meriden, Conn.) dished out 24 assists and classmate Caitlyn Garcia (Moreno Valley, Calif.) paced the back line and picked up a match-high 25 digs.

Game Two: Rhode Island College 3, Lasell College 0 (Final)

After a hard fought conference loss, the Lasers came up short in their non-conference contest against Rhode Island College; falling in straight sets. The Anchormen were winners by scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-18.

Addington and Shelburn once again paved the way offensively as they recorded nine and eight kills, respectively. Senior Meredith Egan (North Andover, Mass.) also chipped in with a nine-kill, .429 hitting percentage effort while freshman Katie Schneider (Covina, Calif.) added 10 assists. Addington & Garcia were the dig leaders with 13 and 11 along with Tiezzi dealing out a team-high 19 assists.

Rhode Island was led by junior Jillian Ward (Coventry, R.I.) who hammered down 11 kills and collected 19 digs, both team-highs. Freshman Jenaeya Evans (Marietta, Ga.) added nine kills and two total blocks over her three sets played and senior Abigayl White (Coventry, R.I.) was the assist leader with 27. Freshman Samantha Borges (Swansea, Mass.) also collected nine digs in the win.

Game Three: Rivier University 3, Rhode Island College 0 (Final)

In the day's final match, the Raiders out-muscled the Anchormen by scores of 25-11, 25-20 and 25-23 to record their sixth straight victory.

Dunster recorded another double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs while both junior Taylor White (Dunsatable, Mass.) and freshman Emma Soucy (Dunbarton, N.H.) added six kills each. Macken, who had five kills of her own, recorded 32 helpers and Trevino led the defensive line with 19 digs.

RIC was guided by Ward's 13 kills and nine digs. Borges reached the double-digit plateau with 11 digs and White dished out 17 assists. Senior Courtney Lambrese (Cranston, R.I.) chipped in with six kills and three digs in the loss.
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The Raiders will hit the road in their next scheduled contest as they travel to Mount Ida College for a 7pm GNAC tilt on Wednesday night. Then it will be right back to the 'doon for the next four games starting with a GNAC tri-match on Saturday (9/23) with Suffolk University and Johnson & Wales University.