Women's Volleyball: Collins powers Raiders to 3-1 win over Keene State

(Keene, N.H.) The Rivier University Women's Volleyball team completed the season sweep against fellow Granite State schools this evening as they earned a four-set win over Keene State College in non-conference action. The win lifts the Raiders to 20-6 overall while the Owls drop to 19-7.

The win also marks the 13th consecutive year that the Women's Volleyball program as reached the 20 win plateau and it is the 15th time overall that the Raiders have won at least 20 games in a season under Head Coach Craig Kolek.

Rivier took the match by set scores of 20-25, 25-23, 27-25 and 25-22.

Graduate Courtney Collins (Litchfield, N.H.) returned to the place where she earned her undergraduate degree and didn't disappoint. The 6-1 middle hitter had an all-around fantastic night as she led the Raiders with 15 kills and totaled seven blocks including five block solos. Senior setter Hayley Macken (Clifton Park, N.Y.) directed the offensive attack with 43 assists while also collecting 18 digs. Freshman Avery Pollard (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) led the backline effort with 24 digs and totaling three blocks while junior Taylor Dunster (Sutton, Mass.) had 15 digs to go along with her nine kills. Freshman Sydney Racevicius (Woodbury, Conn.) chipped in with 17 digs and six kills while classmate Leah Giampietro (Coventry, R.I.) scooped up 11 digs. Junior Jessica Whyte (Plymouth, Mass.) finished just behind Collins with 13 kills.

The Owls saw Bailey Wilson record a triple-double with 11 kills, 32 assists and 13 digs. Megan Palmer had a solid evening with 12 kills and 14 digs while Riley Bunker scooped an amazing 31 digs. Olivia Mathieu also reached double figures with 13 digs as did Kait West who finished with 14 digs.

Rivier is now 5-0 against schools from New Hampshire as they've defeated Keene State (2x), New England College, Plymouth State University and Colby-Sawyer College.

The Raiders will return to action on Saturday afternoon as they travel up to Standish, Maine for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference tri-match with Albertus Magnus hosted by Saint Joseph's College.