By Ethan Savluk, QBSN Staff Writer
After losing their first three MAAC games, the Quinnipiac Bobcats (3-13) pulled off a huge 3-1 upset over the Rider Broncs (10-4) with a tremendous team effort led by the play of freshman Allison Leigh (Palmer, Alaska).
The Bobcats opened the match with a bang and took the first set 25-20, behind the leadership of senior libero Logan Riker (Bowling Green, Ohio).
In the second set, both teams went back and forth, as Rider freshman Ryan Ackermann (Leesburg, Va.) led the charge against a balanced Quinnipiac attack. Despite Ackermann’s play, Leigh and Jamie Paolucci (Lake Mary, Fla.) were able to keep the Bobcats in the set. The Broncs were able to hold off a late Bobcat comeback and win the second set 26-24.
The Bobcats found themselves trailing 21-16 in the third set as the Broncs began to pull away. Leigh, alongside fellow freshmen Katie Urycki (Chesterton, Ind.) and Emma Ogden (Crown Point, Ind.) led the Bobcats on a comeback to win the third, 25-21.
“We just didn’t quit,” head coach Kristopher Czaplinski said. “There was a couple times where we came back from five, six points down. That made a difference. We were just relentless today on offense and defense.”
In the fourth and final set, the Bobcats faced adversity again, but they were able to overcome a three-point Broncs lead late in the set with solid team play. The comeback was capped off as Ackermann blasted another spike which was rejected by Ogden for the final point of the match. The Bobcats’ resilience was put on display for the entire match.
“Watch out, everyone,” Ogden warned. “It doesn’t matter, we’re not giving up … We had a wall to get through, we broke through it, and now were going up from here.”
The Bobcats led the Broncs in nearly every statistical category, including an 18 to seven blocking discrepancy. Paolucci led the way with 13 kills. Leigh finished with 12 kills and 13 blocks, while Ogden tallied 47 assists and five digs.
The Bobcats record their first win in MAAC play this season, improving to 1-3 in the conference. They go for their second consecutive win Sunday when they take on visiting St. Peter’s.
