Women’s Volleyball Falls to Simmons, Bests NEC, on Final Day of Regular-Season

HENNIKER, N.H. – The Rivier women's volleyball team was swept in the neutral site match against Simmons before surviving a five-set affair with New England Col. in Saturday's Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tri-match at Bridges Gym.

Rivier capped off its regular-season 15-15 (9-6 GNAC), earning the No. 7 seed in the upcoming GNAC Tournament. The Raiders will host NEC, the 10th seed, on Monday, Nov. 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the Muldoon Center in the GNAC Play-In round.

Simmons 3, Rivier 0

The Raiders were limited to 16 kills as the team was kept to a negative hitting percentage in a loss to the Sharks by set scores of 14-25, 24-26, 12-25.

Sophomore libero Hannah Raab posted five service aces with a team-high 16 digs in the setback.

Rivier 3, New England Col. 0

Despite taking a 2-0 lead in the match, the host Pilgrims battled back to force a fifth set in each team's regular-season finale.

Rivier got out to a 9-0 lead in the fifth set as senior middle Lily Sills recorded five kills and a solo block to give the Raiders some breathing room. After NEC had called both of its timeouts, a Riv attack error got the 'Grims on the board in the fifth. The Raiders continued their offensive pressure with four kills and an ace to close out the match.

Sills finished with 20 kills while hitting at a .341 clip, tacking on five aces, four blocks, and two digs. Fellow senior middle Brynn Roche hit .333 with 13 kills in the triumph. Classmate Ryan Hicks dished out 43 assists, the second most on the season, as the team produced a .267 hitting percentage. She also added 12 digs to finish with a double-double. Sophomore libero Hannah Raab posted 19 digs while junior outside Ali Rivera registered 18 of her own.