Brooklyn, N.Y. ? The third-seeded Robert Morris University volleyball team dealt No. 6 Sacred Heart a 3-0 (30-24, 30-25, 30-19) sweep in the quarterfinals of the Northeast Conference Championship, hosted by Long Island University. Robert Morris junior Cassie Lee (Vista, Calif. / Vista) led all players with 17 kills.

The first game was a tight one, with the teams staying within two points of one another until Robert Morris opened up a 23-19 lead. The Colonials quickly stretched their advantage to five points at 25-20 before Sacred Heart answered with three points of their own. Robert Morris scored four straight points to make the score 29-24 before the Pioneers broke serve. A Sacred Heart error gave Robert Morris the first game, 30-24. The Colonials hit a blistering .412 for the game.

In the second frame, Robert Morris took a 16-8 lead out of the gate. The Pioneers fought back with a 6-1 run to get within three points. Sacred Heart then whittled the score down to 19-18, but Robert Morris two scored points in a row to reestablish a three-point edge. The Pioneers came right back to tie the game at 21-21 on a Colonial error. After the teams traded points, Robert Morris rattled off three straight points to force Sacred Heart into a timeout. Following the break, the Colonials score three more times to cap off a 6-0 run that built a 28-22 advantage. Robert Morris went on to win 30-25.

Robert Morris kept the momentum in its favor to start the third stanza, jumping out to a 10-4 lead. The Colonials built an eight-point cushion at 24-16, pushing Sacred Heart toward elimination. Robert Morris held on to capture the third game by a 30-19 margin.

The Colonials outhit Sacred Heart by a 56-38 margin and hit .375 for the match. The Pioneers hit .188 and were led by sophomores Annie Archer and Alex Bavasi, who each had 10 kills. Robert Morris' Alaina Gibson (Muncie, Ind. / Muncie Burris) tallied a match-high 17 digs. Senior Emily Wolthuis (Byron Center, Mich. / South Christian) and freshman Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie) added 14 and 12 kills, respectively, while senior Tawnya Storino (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) dished out 50 assists.

Robert Morris will move on to face No. 2 Central Connecticut State in the semifinals at 6:30 p.m. this evening.