Women's Volleyball: Raiders bounce Norwich in GNAC Quarterfinals

Story written and posted by Anthony Perry, Rivier University Sports Information Director

NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier University Women's Volleyball team advanced to their 18th straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference Semifinals this evening as they defeated 6th seeded Norwich University in three sets inside the friendly confines of the Muldoon Gymnasium. The Raiders are now 23-7 overall on the season while the Cadets see their 2019 campaign come to a close at 15-12 overall.

The overall #3 seed in the tournament, Rivier took the quarterfinal matchup by set scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 25-20.

Senior Jess Whyte (Plymouth, Mass.) powered the Raider offense as she recorded 12 kills and a .545 hitting percentage. Sophomore Sydney Racevicius (Woodbury, Conn.) led the team with 13 kills while senior Taylor Dunster (Sutton, Mass.) notched a double-double with 12 kills and 12 digs. Sophomore setter Avery Pollard (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) directed the offensive effort to a team hitting percentage of .348 with 36 assists to go along with her own six-kill, two total block effort. Senior Taryn Higareda (Rosemead, Calif.) and freshman Anna Campbell (Nashua, N.H.) reached double-figures with 11 and 10 digs, respectively in the three-set victory. Junior Julia Zargaj (Groveland, Mass.) was also stellar along the net this evening as she recorded the team high of four total blocks while registering six kills offensively.

Norwich was paced by junior Kathryn Farnum (North Andover, Mass.), who finished with the game-high of 15 kills and recorded a .371 hitting percentage to go along with her 13 digs. Her younger sister, freshman Sarah Farnum (North Andover, Mass.) totaled 34 assists on the night and senior Brianna Dawson (Katonah, N.Y.) scooped up a game-high of 14 digs along the backline. Junior Julia Schrodeder (Victorville, Calif.) also shined bright in the loss as she finished with seven kills, six digs and one total block.

Next up for the Raiders will be the overall #2 seed, Simmons University on Thursday night in Boston. Earlier this season the Sharks defeated the Raiders in straight sets by scores of 25-11, 25-21 and 25-20 back on October 9th at the Shark Tank in Boston's Fenway neighborhood.

GNAC Quarterfinal Final Scores:

#1 Johnson & Wales def. #8 Lasell University, 3-0
#2 Simmons University def. #7 Saint Joseph's (Me.), 3-0
#3 RIVIER UNIVERSITY def. #6 Norwich University, 3-0
#4 Suffolk def. #5 Colby-Sawyer College, 3-0

GNAC Semifinals:

#1 JWU vs. #4 Suffolk | #2 Simmons vs #3 Rivier – Thursday, November 7, 2019