RAIDERS SPRINT PAST MUSTANGS; Rivier Advances to GNAC Semi-Finals

Nashua, NH - Rivier College, the 4th seed in the GNAC tournament, swept Mount Ida College 3-0 by the scores 25-10, 25-11, and 25-18 to advance to the semi-final round of the GNAC Tournament.  In both sets 1 and 2 Mount Ida, the No-5 seed, jumped out to early 2-0 leads but quickly gave in to the Raiders high powered offense and stifling defense.  Set 3 started out with both teams battling back and forth until RIV took control with aggressive serves and big defensive plays. 

Setters Caitie Callahan and Lauren Saccoccio directed a consistent offense and were the difference for the Raiders with a combined 37 assists.  Callahan added a team high 3 service aces and chipped in on defense with 4 digs while Saccoccio put down 4 kills on 8 swings.  First year player Kenna Finlayson thumped a team high 14 kills on just 22 swings with only 2 errors for a .545 hitting percentage.  Not to be out done, juniors Danielle Jacques and Nicole Rodriguez combined for an impressive 17 kills on 22 attempts with just 1 error for a .727 hitting percentage.  Rodriguez also put back a team high 2 blocks.  Senior middle hitter Lindsay Chace played a solid all around game with 3 kills and 4 digs. 

On defense sophomore Danielle Stoodley scooped up a team high 16 digs and passed nails all match with a perfect 13 for 13 on receive.  Senior Becky Gautreau and sophomore Emileigh Cenedella were scrappy with 5 digs apiece. 

#4 Rivier College              3        25  25  25
#5 Mount Ida College       0        10  11  18

Rivier (21-12) will travel to No-1 seed Emerson College on Thursday 11/5 for a 7:00pm GNAC semi-final match-up.