PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Eleven different players recorded kills and freshman
Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) notched six aces as Plymouth State University roared past Rivier University, 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-9) in a non-conference women's volleyball match at Foley Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.
Plymouth State was in control right from the opening serve. An ace from senior
Makayla Marucci (Newton, Mass.) to start the match foreshadowed PSU's dominance from the service line, while the Panthers never trailed in any of the three sets.
PSU got contributions from every healthy player on its roster, with graduate student
Nora Ryan (Groton, Conn.) posting a match-best nine kills. The Panthers' 16 aces were the third most in a match this year, and the second most in a three-set contest.
Plymouth State improves to 13-1, while the Raiders drop to 8-7.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Rivier 0
- Plymouth State (13-1)
- Rivier (8-7)
How it Happened:
- In a sign of things to come, Marucci got the match started with a perfect serve to the back line as the Panthers quickly built a three-point advantage. Graduate student Aynslee King (Anacortes, Wash.) painted the sideline for a transition kill and senior Riley McDonough (Gilford, N.H.) served seven straight points as the lead grew to 17-7. PSU would maintain the double-digit advantage the rest of the way, with a Raiders' error capping off the 25-12 win.
- A kill from freshman Cami Wessels (Plantsville, Conn.) snapped a 4-4 tie to give the Panthers the lead for good in set two. Rivier trailed by three, 11-8, when sophomore Emma Hampton (Durham, N.H.) slammed a kill and Emerson took over at the service line with a run of 11-straight points, including four aces. Ryan closed out the 25-10 win with a kill.
- The Raiders tried to battle back in set three, but PSU's floor defense wouldn't let anything drop. Junior Veronika Castro Rodriguez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) made several highlight reel digs during a seven-point service run as the lead grew to 11-3 and Plymouth State never took its foot off the gas. Freshman Sydney Riley (Haverhill, Mass.) put the exclamation point on the 25-9 win as her cross court smash couldn't be handled by the Rivier defense.
By the Numbers:
- Ryan led all players with nine kills (.389 attack pct.) and added three aces and two blocks.
- Senior Lindsey Sanderson (Gilford, N.H.) added five kills in just two sets with a .400 hitting percentage.
- Emerson played a complete game, posting ten assists, six aces, seven digs and two kills, while McDonough added ten assists, two aces and three digs in two sets of action. Freshman Claire Parker (Gurnee, Ill.) was impressive in her one set with six assists.
- Emerson's seven digs led the Panthers, while Marucci, Hampton and senior Imalay Rodriguez Martinez (Juncos, Puerto Rico) all finished with five.
- Castro Rodriguez made the most of her one set with four highlight digs and two aces.
- PSU's defense held Rivier to a -.060 attack percentage for the match.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series by a 15-7 margin. The Panthers have won five straight meetings.
Up Next:
- PSU hosts Framingham State University for a non-conference tilt on Friday (Oct. 4). Prior to first serve, Plymouth State will honor the team members who were selected as 2023-24 Athletics Department Award winners.
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