Courtesy: Rider Athletics
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – Freshman Anilee Sher (Poughkeepsie, NY/Spackenkill) and senior Savannah Logan (Jupiter, FL/Benjamin) both recorded double-doubles to lead the Rider University volleyball team past host Saint Francis Brooklyn, 3-2, on Tuesday evening in non-conference action at the Genovesi Center.
The Broncs (2-2) defeated the Terriers (3-4) for the third time in the last two years.
Rider rallied to win by scores of 17-25, 26-24, 25-20, 21-25 & 15-12. The Broncs scored the final four points of the match to take the fifth set. The see-saw deciding frame saw Rider jump out to a 6-1 edge and SFBK rally to take a 12-11 advantage before a service ace from Bronc freshman Jillian Chan (Watchung, NJ/Watchung Hills Regional) sealed the victory.
The win was the 100th for Bronc Head Coach Chris Feliciano at the helm of the program. He becomes just the second Rider coach in program history to rack up 100 victories, following Nancy Roberts (112-112 from 1991-98).
Cool moment! pic.twitter.com/92Kk6YOxyq
— Christopher Feliciano (@BroncVBcoach) September 5, 2018
Offensively, three Broncs had 10 or more kills led by a career-high 13 from junior Alexa Shello (Long Valley, NJ/West Morris Central). Logan and freshman Delaney St. Pierre (Colorado Springs, CO/Coronado) each chipped in 12 kills apiece. In the middle, Sher continued her strong play with 44 assists and 11 digs.
At the net, senior Perry Williams (Portland, OR/Cleveland) had 10 total blocks (3 BS, 7 BA) and junior Evelyn Shanefield (Drexel Hill, PA/Upper Darby) contributed two solo blocks.
Defensively, both junior Rachelle Runyon (Aliso Viejo, CA/Aliso Niguel) and sophomore Danielle Blanco (El Paso, TX/Franklin) had a team-best 14 digs. Sher chipped in 11 digs and Logan had 10 or her own.
NOTES & QUOTES
“Tonight was a total team win. This group is showing some true grit. It is exciting to work with them. They may bend, but they do not break and never give up. I could not be prouder of them this early in the season.” – Rider Head Coach Chris Feliciano
“I’m truly humbled by the body of work that all the student-athletes have put in since I arrived at Rider. I am lucky and blessed to have this job and I could not have done this without the mentorship of Don Harnum and Karin Torchia guiding me throughout the way, focusing and fine tuning my coaching abilities.” – Feliciano when asked about his 100th victory
– Rider is now 27-1 all-time against Saint Francis Brooklyn
– The Broncs are 2-0 this season in five-set matches.
– Rider has won back-to-back road matches.
– Both Rider and SFBK had 78 total points apiece.
– Rider had 51 kills, 12 service aces, a season-high 15 blocks, 49 assists and 69 digs.
BRONCS BY THE NUMBERS
– Feliciano is now the second winningest coach in program history.
– Shello has recorded 10 or more kills in back-to-back matches.
– Perry Williams leads the team with 20 total blocks this year. She has had seven block assists in two straight matches.
– Sher, the reigning MAAC Rookie of the Week, set a new career-high in digs. She has also recorded 99 assists in her last 10 sets of action.
– Brynn Sherbert added nine digs for the Broncs.
UP NEXT
Rider returns to action this weekend, September 7-8, competing in the La Salle Invitational in Philadelphia. The Broncs square off with Kent State on Friday evening before taking on in-state foe NJIT and the host Explorers on Saturday.
Editor’s Note: Feliciano previously led New Jersey City University to a 131-39 record as women’s head coach and 72-54 as the men’s head coach.
Leave a Reply