Moon Township, Pa. - Oct. 17, 2009 - On Sunday afternoon the Robert Morris University Colonials took down the Fairleigh Dickson Knights in three sets (25-11, 25-11, 25-22) at the Charles L. Sewall Center. The win improves the Colonials record to 8-16 overall and 5-2 in NEC play, while the Knights drop to 3-18 overall and 0-5 in league play.
The Knights and the Colonials swapped points until 4-4 when Robert Morris took control of the game. Sophomore setter Alyssa Bennett (Ramona, Calif. / Ramona) captured a service ace, which was followed by two Colonial kills, bringing the score to 6-4. FDU sided out, but Robert Morris took the ball right back and went on a nine point run off the serve of junior Charla Drabant (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton North), bringing the score to 15-5. Sophomore Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) tallied three kills in the run. The Knights were never able to recover and RMU soared to a 25-11 finish. Freshman Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) led the Colonials with five kills in set one.
Set two looked almost identical to the first with Robert Morris winning 25-11. The Colonials led for the entirety of play and held the Knights to a negative hitting percentage in route to the win. Junior Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie) led Robert Morris with five kills and two blocks in the second set.
The Knights gave the Colonials a little more of a challenge in the final game, but Robert Morris prevailed and won 25-22. Robert Morris led for the entire set, earning its biggest lead at 21-11. However, at 21-12 the Knights went on a six point run to cut into RMU's lead 21-16. The Colonials were able to side out after a FDU serving error, but the Knights quickly responded with a kill and two consecutive RMU errors brought the score within three, 22-19. However, Robert Morris picked up their play and went on to win the set for the match win.
The Colonials were led by Veith, who captured two blocks and nine kills on a .643 hitting percentage. Graham and Monger added eight kills apiece on a .538 and .438 hitting percentage, respectively. Bennett led the match with 17 digs and tallied 28 assists and two blocks in the win.
Robert Morris travels to New York to take on Long Island on Friday, October 24 at 2:00 p.m. and St. Francis (N.Y.) on Saturday, October 25 at 1:00 p.m.
