Rivier Clinches Top Seed in GNAC With 3-0 Win Over JWU

Nashua, NH - #11 Rivier College (11-1 GNAC; 28-8 overall) defeated Johnson & Wales University 3-0 to clinch the #1 seed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference playoffs. Rivier's three seniors, Jared Andreozzi (Barrington, RI), John Furka (Massapequa, NY), and Steve Wood (Spencerport, NY), all played their last regular season game of their careers in The Muldoon and put their own signature on the victory.

The Raiders jumped out to a 7-3 lead early in the first set after 3 straight hitting errors by the visiting Wildcats, including a monster block by Rivier's Sam Kazlas (Allentown, PA) and Taylor Lindner (Cheshire, CT), before freshman Alex Viera (Bay Shore, NY) could sideout. The Raiders went up 18-10 on a service error by JWU and Andreozzi went back to the service line and served out the set, including 3 straight aces, to win 25-10.

The Raiders found themselves up 4-0 in the second set after Daniel Elitharp (Eastport, NY) started the game with an ace and the Wildcats committed 3 straight errors. Henrique DeBrito (Mamora Bay, Antigua) finally got Johnson & Wales on the board with a kill, but the visiting team could keep the ball and 4 straight hitting errors made the score 10-2 in favor of the home team. Up 24-14, late in the game, the Raiders committed three straight errors to allow the Wildcats to get to 17 points before freshman Steven Coulson (Huntington Beach, CA) finished things off with a kill to end set two 25-17.

The Raiders wasted no time getting the reserves into the match in set 3. A service error by JWU's Shawn Kennedy (West Barnstable, MA) started the game and Rivier's Terence Matatall (Danville, NH) served three straight points to give Rivier a 4-0 lead. After a kill by Andreozzi, to make the game 6-1, the senior was removed from the match to a standing ovation from the crowd. A few plays later Furka received the same treatment after a kill of his own to give the Raiders a 10-5 lead. Steve Wood, the final senior to receive a warm send off, went on a 8 point service run to extend the Raiders lead to 21-9 and then picked up his lone kill on an attack from the back row to make the score 24-10 when he was removed from the game. The Raiders finished things off with a block by Coulson and freshman middle blocker Aaron Almario (Alhambra, CA) to give the Raiders a 25-10 win and the 3-0 match victory.

Andreozzi posted a match high 6 kills and 4 ace serves while Wood picked up a match high 5 digs and passed well on receive. Furka hit for a .400 clip and registered 3 kills, 1 dig, 1 block, and 1 ace. Sophomore setter Steve Visentin (Cheshire, CT) registered a match high 18 assists and freshman Terence Matatall put back a match high 5 blocks. Sophomore Taylor Lindner had 6 kills and 3 blocks in just 2 games while freshman Sam Kazlas was solid with 3 blocks and 2 kills on just 3 attempts. First year defensive specialists Elitharp and Alex Wezelis (Churchville, NY) played well in the back row with a combined 10 for 10 on receive and 8 digs.

Middle hitters Eric Minnich (Concord, CA) and Dan Struebing (Coventry, RI) led the Wildcats with 4 kills apiece and Minnich had a team high 2 blocks and a service ace. Setter Curtis DelValle registered 13 assists and a block as well as a team high 5 digs.

Rivier will host the GNAC Championships on Saturday March 26th. In the first semi-final match the Raiders will take on Johnson & Wales University at 11:00am followed by Emmanuel College vs. Lasell College in semi-final #2 at 1:00pm. The winners of semi-final #1 and semi-final #2 will square off at 4:00pm for the GNAC Championship.

#11 Rivier (3) 25 25 25
JWU          (0) 10 17 10

Rivier will travel to Endicott College on Thursday 3/24 for a 7:00pm match against the Gulls.