NASHUA, N.H. – Senior
Ryley McNeeley (Easton, Mass.) came alive with three kills and a block during a crucial second set rally to help Plymouth State University cruise past Rivier University, 3-0 (25-19, 27-25, 25-17), in a non-conference women's volleyball match at Muldoon Gymnasium on Tuesday night.
PSU took the opening set, but Rivier held a 21-15 advantage in set two before McNeeley and senior
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) combined for a key block to spark the comeback. McNeeley added three kills as Ryan served eight straight points to give the Panthers a 24-21 lead. Rivier earned set-point after winning four straight rallies, but McNeeley's fourth kill of the set tied things at 25-25, and a Rivier error and kill from junior
Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) gave PSU an unsurmountable 2-0 lead.
The Panthers shook off a narrow deficit midway through the third set to close out the sweep.
PSU pushes its winning streak to a dozen, moving to 14-2 on the season, while Rivier dips to 9-6.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Rivier 0
- Plymouth State (14-2)
- Rivier (9-6)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State used a 4-0 run midway through the opening set to take an 11-6 lead. A kill from Sanderson made it 15-9, and the teams traded points from there. Senior Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.) had a block to make it 20-13 and PSU held on for the win after Ryan's kill and Sanderson's ace for a 25-19 victory.
- The Panthers took an 8-4 lead in set two on an ace from junior Lilli Stogner (Weare, N.H.), but the Raiders answered back with a 10-2 run. Rivier stayed in front, 21-15, until a block from Ryan and McNeeley sparked a big comeback for PSU. Ryan served eight straight points from there, with McNeeley pounding three huge kills in the spurt, as the Panthers went ahead, 24-21. Rivier battled back to take a 25-24 lead, but McNeeley smashed a kill to stave off set-point and, following a Raiders' error, Sanderson's blast down the line gave PSU the 27-25 win.
- Rivier held a narrow advantage through the start of the third set, but Plymouth State roared back with six straight points to go ahead, 14-10. Sanderson started the run with a kill, while Ryan slammed slides on either side of a Rivier timeout. Rivier attempted to rally late, pulling to within 20-17, but a missed serve gave PSU the ball back and the Panthers would score the final four point with Sanderson firing an absolute bullet down the line for match-point, before junior Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) wrapped up the sweep with an ace for the 25-17 win.
By the Numbers:
- Ryan led the way with a match-high 10 kills, while McNeeley and Stogner added six kills apiece.
- McNeeley hit .312 for the match (6-1-16) and added a pair of blocks.
- Sophomore Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) posted a match-best 16 assists, with classmate Kalista Butler (Philipsburg, Pa.) adding 11 of her own.
- Sanderson finished with five kills and three aces, while Marucci led the Panthers with 10 digs.
- Plymouth State hit .204 as a team, while the Raiders posted a .137 attack percentage, the highest PSU has allowed since returning from the Virginia Wesleyan Tournament over Labor Day weekend.
- The Panthers improve to 14-7 against Rivier. PSU has won each of the last four matchups.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads home for a Little East Conference match against VTSU Castleton on Saturday (Oct. 14) for the team's annual Dig Pink game. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m.
– 30 –
