Women's Volleyball: Racevicius, Rivier outlast Eastern Nazarene, 3-1

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

NASHUA, N.H. – The Rivier University Women's Volleyball team earned a four set victory this evening over visiting Eastern Nazarene College in a non-conference contest inside the Muldoon Gymnasium. The win lifts the Raiders' overall record to 6-5 on the season while the Lions, who saw their six game win streak snap, fall to 6-4.

Rivier won the game 3-1 with set scores of 25-13, 23-25, 27-25 and 25-21.

Sophomore Sydney Racevicius (Woodbury, Conn.) led the way offensively as she hammered down 18 kills while both seniors Taylor Dunster (Sutton, Mass.) and Jess Whyte (Plymouth, Mass.) added 16 kills apiece in the win. Sophomore setter Avery Pollard (Ballston Lake, N.Y.) dished out 52 assists on the evening while also picking up 13 digs and three total blocks. Dunster led the way defensively with 26 digs while Racevicius scooped up 15 digs and freshman Olivia Garand (Litchfield, N.H.) finished with 10 digs.

Eastern Nazarene was paced by sophomore Ruth Aguilar (Tegucigalpa, Houndoras) who gathered the team-high with 12 kills. Senior Courtney McCarthy (Merrimack, N.H.) and sophomore Halie Julian (Whitman, Mass.) each knocked down seven kills for the Lions with junior Samantha Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) directing the offense with 23 assists. Sophomore libero Amya Altman (Butler, Pa.) patrolled the back line with a team-high 17 digs and sophomore Jessica Caldwell (Quincy, Mass.) also reached double-figures with 13 digs.

Rivier will return to action at home this weekend as they welcome Saint Lawrence University and the University of Massachusetts-Boston to the Muldoon Gymnasium. The first game against SLU is slated to begin at 1pm. Eastern Nazarene will host Mitchell College in NECC action on Saturday afternoon starting at 1pm.