Moon Township, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University women's volleyball team, led by sixth year head coach Rob Thomas, began its 2008 season with an impressive start Friday at the Charles L. Sewall Center, earning sweeping victories over Lehigh University and Loyola (Md.). In the process, Thomas became the all-time win leader at Robert Morris with 99 victories to his name.

In the first match of the day of the Robert Morris/Duquesne Invitational, the Colonials showed perfection, earning 10 kills on zero errors in set one against the Lehigh Mountain Hawks.  Freshman setter Alyssa Bennett (Ramona, Calif./Ramona) showed her ability to balance the offense, with three players earning multiple kills in the first set.  The Colonials went on to win set one 25-14.

In set two, Lehigh came out with more fight, but the Colonials quickly bounced back to take the set 25-19.  The team came up with similar results in the third set, winning with an identical score of 25-19 to notch the 3-0 sweep.

Senior outside hitter Emily Wolthuis (Byron Center, Mich. / South Christian) led the RMU offense with nine kills and added five block assists, one service ace and seven digs, while sophomore outside hitter Charla Drabant (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) chipped in eight kills five digs and one service ace.  Senior Alaina Gibson (Muncie, Ind. / Muncie Burris) led the defense with 16 digs.

   Sophomore middle blockers Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie) and Jaye Hellmich (Costa Mesa, Calif. / Estancia) also put in strong performances, with Graham grabbing five blocks and seven kills on a .600 hitting average, and Hellmich putting up four blocks and six kills on a .455 average.

In the second match of the day for the Colonials, the Loyola Greyhounds gave RMU a challenge in the first set, but the Colonials were able to rally their way back to a 29-27 victory.

The close victory in set one gave the Colonials a surge going into the second set, which was shown from their dominating 25-10 win.  Wolthuis led the Colonials in the third set with four kills to end the third set 25-22 and win the match 3-0.

Bennett dished out a match high 28 assists, with Gibson adding 13 digs to the win. Wolthuis earned another team high in kills with eight, while Graham also put in an impressive performance with seven kills on a .429 hitting average, to go along with two blocks. Cassie Lee (Vista, Calif. / Vista) and Hellmich each added three blocks a piece to the victory.

The Colonials return to the Robert Morris Sewall Center tomorrow  at 11:00 a.m. to face Marist and will then return at 7:00 p.m. to challenge Saint Francis (Pa.) in the concluding match of the Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational.