Women’s Volleyball Downs Westfield St. in Four Sets

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Rivier women's volleyball team opened its 2024 season with a four-set victory over Westfield St. on the opening day of the Joel B. Dearing '79 Volleyball Classic hosted by Springfield College.

The Raiders downed the Owls by set scores of 25-21, 14-25, 25-19, 25-21 in Dana Gymnasium to begin the season with an unblemished record.

Trailing 8-4 in the first set, Rivier rattled off four-straight points capped off by back-to-back kills from senior middle Lily Sills to tie the game and force Westfield St. to call a timeout. Sophomore outside Sam Driend dropped in a service ace to finish a 4-0 run giving the Raiders their largest lead to that point at 15-9. The Owls would rally within three in the late stages of the frame to make it 23-20, but Rivier would hold on to take a match lead with senior captains Brynn Roche and Ryan Hicks providing a set-clinching block. The Raiders notched six aces in the first set.

Rivier was limited to a .074 hitting percentage while the Owls hit at a .360 clip in the second set to tie the match at 1-1.

Riv's defense responded in the third as the Raiders limited Westfield St.'s attacking offense which hit -.214.

In the fourth, the Raiders called a timeout trailing early at 6-2. Out of the break, Rivier went on a 9-0 run which included seven service aces from sophomore Hannah Raab to give her squad an 11-6 edge. Westfield St. would eventually catch up with consecutive kills from Emily Washkalavitch tying it at 13-all. Rivier would later use a five-point swing with three Hicks aces in the mix to pull ahead 20-16. Riv would hold on for the victory as Sills' kill on match point on a feed from Hicks capped things off.

The Raiders compiled 20 service aces to the Owls' nine in the season-opening victory.

Hicks dished out 29 assists in the win to go along with seven digs. Junior outside Ali Rivera recorded 10 kills and eight digs in the contest. Driend's 11 digs and Raab's 11 aces were each a team-high.

The Raiders will return to Dana Gymnasium on Saturday, Aug. 31 for a pair of matches, first at 10:00 a.m. against No. 18 Ithaca before a 3:00 p.m. showdown against Keene St.