It was a tough night Tuesday for the Rivier women's volleyball team in the GNAC quarterfinals at the Muldoon Center. (Courtesy photo by Erin Stanton/Rivier Athletics)

NASHUA – The Rivier women’s volleyball team bowed out of the GNAC Postseason Tournament after falling to No. 5 Regis (Mass.), 3-2, in the GNAC quarterfinals Tuesday evening at the Muldoon Center.

With the result the Raiders end the 2025 campaign with a record of 16-14, while the Pride improved to 18-13.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Regis (Mass.) took a commanding 16-4 lead to open the contest.

Rivier chipped away at the Pride’s lead late in the frame but were unable to close the gap giving Regis (Mass.) a 1-0 match lead. The Raiders held a 11-9 lead through the first 20 points of the second set.The Pride went on a six-point run to take a 15-11 lead midway through the set.

Rivier countered with a seven-point stretch to regain the lead but Regis (Mass.) battled back to set point, however four different Raiders recorded kills down the stretch to close out the set 30-28 and even the score.

Both teams swapped scoring runs in the third set with the Pride taking a lead midway through the frame. A kill by Lydia Brakefield sparked a rally that ended with senior Ali Rivera tallying a kill to make the score 8-7

Rivier controlled the tempo for the remainder of the stanza, with Rivera, Brakefield, and sophomores Lily Seibel and Savannah Dunne, and junior Sam Driend all notching kills to help put the Raiders ahead 2-1 in the match.

Each team traded scores throughout the opening stages of the fourth set.

Senior Kaitlyn Miller recorded a three-point service run, putting Rivier ahead 14-12.

Regis (Mass.) embarked on an 13-7 run in the late stages of the fourth set, knotting the match at two sets apiece.

The fifth set saw five tied scores, with the Pride holding a one-point lead at the switch leading 8-7. A kill from Driend put the Raiders ahead 10-9, but a 6-2 run secured the match for Regis (Mass.).

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

Rivera paced the offense with 16 kills and a .180 hitting percentage, adding 11 digs…Brakefield contributed eight kills at a .238 clip…Seibel recorded a team-high 35 assists and seven digs…Defensively, Driend recorded a team-high 14 digs.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

RIVIER 2 SALEM STATE 1 (OT)

The Rivier women’s ice hockey team secured its first win of the season in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play Tuesday as with just 2:34 left in overtime, senior Olivia Schultz set up McKelvey for the golden goal.

With the win, the Raiders improved to 2-1 (1-0 MASCAC), while the Vikings dropped to 0-5 (0-1 MASCAC).

Despite the Raiders’ offensive pressure in the first period, outshooting the Vikings 11-4, they were unable to find the back of the net as the score remained deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the second frame.

Salem State struck first at 17:02 of the second to go up 1-0.

At 10:23 in the third, first-year Chloe Bryda buried the equalizer, the first goal of her collegiate career, connecting with junior Rebecca McKelvey.

In the closing minutes of regulation, both teams traded chances, with the Vikings holding a slight 9-8 edge in shots, but neither side could find the go-ahead goal, forcing overtime.

BOX SCORE BREAKDOWN

Rivier held a 38-30 advantage in faceoffs.

The Raiders outshot the Vikings 34-26.

In net, first-year Emily Krauss recorded 25 saves.

Sophomore Keegan McGaheran and first-year Marina Bassett each won a team-high 13 faceoffs.

The Raiders continue conference play on the road against MCLA at Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Rink on Friday at 6 p.m.

MEN’S HOCKEY

SALVAE REGINA 9, RIVIER 3

The Rivier men’s ice hockey team fell, 9-3, to non-conference opponent Salve Regina on Tuesday night at Howard Rink.

With the loss, the Raiders dropped to 0-5, while the Seahawks improved to 4-0.

The Seahawks took control early, scoring four times in the opening period while holding the Raiders off the board.

Salve Regina added another before senior Carter Poulin put the Raiders on the board, connecting with first-year Mason Rudrud 6:45 into the second period.

Rudrud added one of his own at 14:51 in the second, burying a setup from classmates Josh Coderre and Brayden Deschamps.

Salve tallied another 2 minutes later to extend their lead to 6-2.

Rudrud netted his second of the night on the power play just one minute later, connecting with sophomore Damon Kiyawasew and Deschamps.

A late goal by the Seahawks made it 7-3 heading into the third.

In the third period, Salve Regina added two more goals to secure a 9-3 final.

Salve Regina outshot Rivier 54-17. In net, Junior Mason Meyer recorded 45 saves.

The Raiders return home on Saturday for their first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) match-up against Fitchburg State. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m.