Men's Volleyball: Raiders capture 9th overall GNAC Championship!!!

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

(Nashua, N.H.) The #1 seeded Rivier University Men's Volleyball team captured their 9th overall Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship and second in a row this evening as they swept visiting Wentworth Institute of Technology (tournament's 2nd seed) in straight sets in front a packed house at the Muldoon Gymnasium. Rivier was victorious by set scores of 25-18, 25-20 and 28-26.

The Raiders, currently ranked #13 in the latest American Volleyball Coaches Association Top-15 Poll, are now 25-7 on the season and await their placement in the upcoming NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament.

Tournament MVP David Smith (Clinton, Ohio) powered the Raiders to victory by lacing a team-high twelve kills while registering a .318 hitting percentage and adding a block solo. Senior Khaynen Yocca (Pittsburgh, Pa.) swung at a .438 clip with 10 kills and junior Francis Kokoros (Braintree, Mass.) added nine kills in the win. Junior Pedro Campos (Downey, Calif.) directed the offense to the tune of 37 assists and helped defensively with three key block solos. Junior Cam Roth (Coventry, R.I.) and freshman Jack Normandin (Clifton Park, N.Y.) scooped up four and six digs along the backline for the Raiders.

Junior Ryan Love (Gaithersburg, Md.) hammered down a game-high 13 kills for the Leopards and classmate Ryan Engel (Floral Park, N.Y.) added nine winners to led the Wentworth offensive attack. Junior setter Augusto Rodriguez-Guerrios (San Juan, Puerto Rico) dished out 24 helpers and sophomore Peter Klembeck (Penfield, N.Y.) picked up six digs. Sophomore David Marsh (Springfield, Mass.) was a force along the net for Wentworth as he recorded five block solos and junior Xhulio Zyba (Holbrook, Mass.) notched three block solos in the final game of the year for the Leopards.

Rivier will find out who their next opponent will be on Monday morning (10am) during the live NCAA Division III Men's Volleyball Tournament selection show. You can watch the show here: https://www.ncaa.com/news/volleyball-men/article/2019-04-13/diii-mens-volleyball-championship-selection-show-set-monday