Rivier perfect in win at Norwich

NORTHFIELD, Vt.— Junior Nicole Peacock (Warwick, RI) totaled 12 kills on .222 percent hitting to lead the Raiders of Rivier University to a 3-0 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win against the Cadets of Norwich University on Wednesday evening in Andrews Hall. With the win, the Raiders improve to 11-5 overall and 3-0 in GNAC play, while the Cadets fall to 6-9 overall and 2-3 in league play.

Game scores were 25-20, 25-16, and 25-21.

After falling 2-0, Norwich fought back in game three and evened the score at 19-19 and took the lead at 20-21, but Rivier outscored the Cadets 5-1 in the final points to clinch their 11th win of the season.

In addition to Peacock's 12 kills, the Raiders were led by senior Kenna Finlayson (Derry, NH) with nine kills and freshman Jackie Pisecco (Chelmsford, MA) with six. Classmate Emily O'Reilly (San Francisco, CA) dished out a match-high 32 assists for the Raiders, while junior Jessica Amaral (East Providence, RI) totaled a match-high 11 digs and freshman Lyndsey Sweeney (Salem, NH) contributed 10.

Alex Palmer (South Windsor, Conn.), Gabrielle Miller (Grove City, Ohio) and Tara Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) all had a team-leading four kills for the Cadets. Miller dished out a team-high 13 assists, while Lyons and Palmer led the team defensively with six digs apiece. Kelsey Mancini (Lynnfield, Mass.) posted a solid performance at the net with four total blocks.

The Raiders totaled 38 kills in the win while holding the Cadets to 18. On the match, Rivier posted a .133 hitting percentage to Norwich's .034 percentage.

Rivier will be on the road once again this Saturday as they will battle GNAC foes Saint Joseph College (CT) and Lasell College in a tri-match hosted by the Blue Jays. The Raiders' game times are at 11am (vs. Saint Joseph) and 1pm (vs. Lasell). Norwich also returns to action on Saturday, October 6 when they host Simmons College and Suffolk University in GNAC tri-mach action.