NASHUA, N.H.—The top-seeded Rivier University Women's Volleyball team took the first step towards their fifth Great Northeast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship this evening as they defeated the eighth seeded Norwich University Cadets in three straights set inside of the Muldoon Gymnasium.

Rivier won by scores of 25-11, 25-11 and 25-18.

Senior Nicole Peacock led the team with nine kills and six total blocks as she recorded a .571 hitting percentage. Classmate Morgan Peck added six kills of her own while both senior Nicole Boucher and sophomore Jackie Pisecco contributed with five kills apiece.

Sophomore Emily O'Reilly had 30 assists and a team high eight service aces on the evening and senior libero Jessica Amaral registered eight digs. Freshman Molly McCormack also had a stellar game as she had five service aces and eight digs over the three sets she played.

Norwich was led by the duo of Tara Lyons (Pocasset, Mass.) and Kelsey Mancini (Lynnfield, Mass.) who each had the team high with five kills. Corinne Baita (Rochester, N.H.) had 13 assists and Mancini was the dig leader with six. Angie Hershberger (Felton, Calif.), Jennette Chartrand (Poestenkill, N.Y.) and Alex Ruediger (Sandy Lake, Pa.) were the other Cadets to see time on the court in the quarterfinal.

With the loss, Norwich's season comes to an end as they finish with a 6-21 overall record.

Rivier (25-8 overall) will host the fifth seeded Simmons College Sharks on Thursday night in the GNAC Semifinals. Simmons was able to sneak past #4 Saint Joseph's College in their Quarterfinal contest this evening. The Raiders defeated the Sharks on the road earlier this season, 3-0. Game time is set for 7pm inside the Muldoon Gymnasium.