The Raiders were able to have many point celebrations like this as they topped Keene State on Wednesday night. (Courtesy photo by Nick Theodores/Rivier Athletics)

KEENE – The Rivier women’s volleyball took down Keene St. in a rematch of the first game of the season in four sets Wednesday afternoon at the Spaulding Gymnasium.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 4-7, while the Owls fell to 4-6.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Following Keene St. three point run to begin the match, Rivier scored five unanswered points which included back-to-back service aces from junior Sam Driend.

Both teams traded points throughout the middle of the set, but the Owls pulled ahead late in the set, gaining a three-score advantage.

Senior Callie Nanos, Driend, and sophomore Savannah Dunne combined for four kills during the Raiders second 5-0 run, securing the set 25-23. Both squads were deadlocked at 12 in the second set until Keene St. carried a two-point lead, 17-15.

Rivier bounced-back and went on a 10-2 run, which included a trifecta of kills from junior Lacey Turner, sophomore Lily Seibel, and Nanos, taking a 2-0 match lead. The Owls found their stride in the third set, getting out to as much as a seven-point lead late in the frame.

The Raiders chipped away at Keene St.’s lead, closing the gap to as much as three points, but the Owls strung together back-to-back points to claim the set, 25-20.

Rivier responded by taking a 5-2 advantage to open the fourth set. A kill by senior Ali Rivera began a five-point scoring run for the Raiders that gave them an eight-point cushion and forced Keene St. into a timeout. Coming out of the timeout the Owls strung together a 5-0 run, bringing them within three

Rivier surged out in front once more, taking a six-point lead right to the very end, with Turner and Lacey taking the match on back-to-back kills

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

As a team, the Raiders outhit Keene St. .162 to .091 with 49 kills to their 47…Rivier recorded 23 total blocks, including five solos and 18 block assists…Driend, Rivera, and Seibel each recorded a double-double…Driend was the kill leader with 13 followed by Rivera with 11.

Seibel set a new career-high with assists for the second time in as many games with 37…Senior Kaitlyn Miller logged a team-high 20 digs, with other four Raiders recording double digit assists.

UP NEXT

The Raiders return to the court for their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) match on Saturday, Sept. 20 against Mitchell. First serve is scheduled for noon at the Muldoon Center.

MEN’S SOCCER

WESTFIELD STATE 4, RIVIER 0

The Raiders fell in a non-conference matchup at Alumni Field, as they dropped to 0-3-3, while the Owls improved to 4-1-0.

The first half was balanced with both teams producing scoring chances, but it was the Owls who broke through in the 12th minute and carried the 1-0 lead into the break.

The Raiders’ best chance came in the 74th minute, when sophomore Arthur Dias’ free kick set up junior Mitchell Ward for a header that rattled the crossbar.

Westfield St. found the back of the net three more times in the final 16 minutes to secure a 4-0 victory.

irst-year Lucas Sades made his collegiate debut in net, saving seven of the eleven shots he faced. The Owls outshot the Raiders, 24-11, and Westfield St. held the slight edge on corner kicks, 4-2.

The Raiders remain on the road for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) matchup with the Dean Bulldogs on Saturday at Longley Athletics Complex at 4 p.m.

FIELD HOCKEY

PLYMOUTH STATE 6, RIVIER 2

With the result at Panther Field in Plymouth, the Raiders dropped to 0-6 on the season, while the Panthers improved to 2-3.

Plymouth St. struck early, netting two goals in the opening quarter

Rivier responded in the second quarter when Shaelyn Burke scored off an assist from Mary Kelley, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Plymouth St. added another before halftime to hold a 3-1 lead at the break

The Panthers extended the advantage 4-1 in the final five minutes of the third quarter. Rivier’s Kelsey Bain netted her third goal of the season in the fourth, making it 5-2, but the Panthers sealed the victory with their sixth and final tally with just over six minutes remaining in the contest.

Rivier fired 24 shots, including 17 shots on goal as Brianna Spinelli paced the Raiders with seven shots, while Burke and Bain provided the scoring.

Lily Gifford recorded eight saves in goal for the Raiders.

Rivier travels to New Haven, Conn., for a Great Northeast Athletic Conference matchup against Albertus Magnus on Saturday evening. Game time is set for 6 p.m.