2025 Season Preview: Rivier Men’s Volleyball
NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier men's volleyball team is set to begin its 2025 campaign in which the Raiders are slated to face five programs placed in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division III Preseason Poll.
Rivier's roster for the campaign consists of seven returners from last season, a year the Raiders finished in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship match, falling to No. 3 Wentworth in straight sets in Boston. The team is rounded out by seven newcomers consisting of six first-year student-athletes and one transfer.
Top returners from last season include sophomore outside hitter Racine Camara and junior middle blocker Matthew McCloskey. Camara, a GNAC All-Rookie Team selection in 2024, appeared in 88 sets over 27 matches notching 100 kills at a .209 hitting percentage. He also registered 88 digs (1.00 digs per set) and 364 clean receptions (.969 reception percentage) in his first collegiate campaign. McCloskey's sophomore season was productive as he recorded 136 kills at a .355 clip while notching 0.41 blocks per set over 70 sets played.
The Raiders, now under the direction of head coach Casey Fitzpatrick, begin their schedule at the Battle 4 the Boardwalk where they will face Rutgers-Newark, Drew, and Arcadia over a two-day stretch on Jan. 17 and 18.
Non-conference play will continue on Wednesday, Jan. 22 at Endicott after splitting a home-and-home series with the Gulls in 2024.
The home opener is set for Saturday, Feb. 1 when Rivier hosts both SUNY Potsdam and Springfield in a tri-match inside the Muldoon Center.
GNAC play begins on Tuesday, Feb. 4 with a road matchup against Dean before the team returns home for a six-game homestand with competitions against Wentworth, Emmanuel (Mass.), Lasell, Nichols, Curry, Sage, and Endicott.
A tri-match at MIT on Saturday, March 15 will consist of non-conference contests against Arcadia and the host Engineers.
The Raiders return to conference action on Tuesday, March 18 for a matchup against Elms before Saturday's tri-match against Dean and Lasell in Newton. Home matches against Regis (Mass.) on Tuesday, March 25 and Emerson on Thursday, March 27 precede a tri-match against Wentworth and Regis in Weston.
Senior Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, Apr. 1 prior to a 7:00 p.m. matchup against Elms.
After facing Springfield on the road the following night, the regular season concludes on Saturday, Apr. 5 in Boston as the Raiders face off against Emmanuel and Emerson at Brown and Plofker Gym.
Rivier was picked to finish fourth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll behind Wentworth, Lasell, and Emmanuel. Both Wentworth (No. 9) and Lasell (No. 19) are in the AVCA Preseason Poll to begin the season.
