Brooklyn, N.Y. - Oct. 25, 2009 - The Robert Morris University Colonials bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 loss to Long Island with a 3-0 sweep over the St. Francis (N.Y.) Terriers on Sunday afternoon. The win improves the Colonials to a 9-17 overall record and a 6-3 NEC record, while the Terriers drop to 2-18 overall and 1-9 in the league.  

Robert Morris started off the first set with a kill by junior Charla Drabant (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton North), but the score remained very close for the entirety of play. At 14-14 St. Francis tallied a kill and a service ace to grab a 16-14 lead, but the Colonials bounced back when sophomore setter Alyssa Bennett (Ramona, Calif. / Ramona) recorded two kills followed by two service aces to put the Colonials up 19-17. Back-to-back kills by SFNY's Maria Kashavelova gave the Terriers back the lead at 20-19, but Bennett answered right back with a kill to knot the score once again at 20-20. The two teams continued to swap points until the very end of play. A kill by junior Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie) gave the Colonials the 26-24 win.

Unlike the first set, the Colonials dominated play in the second set. Graham started off the set with a kill, which started a surge of six Colonial points. A kill by Detelina Dimitrova finally enabled the Terriers to side-out, but Robert Morris got the ball right back and continued to extend its lead. The Terriers were never able to get into the set and Robert Morris cruised to a 25-12 finish.

St. Francis started set three with the first kill, but several Colonial kills gave Robert Morris a 6-3 advantage. However, the Terriers responded back with a four point run to put them up 9-7. St. Francis continued to lead the set until two kills by Amanda Craig (Houston, Texas / St. Agnes Academy) and put downs from freshman Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) and Graham gave Robert Morris back the lead at 14-13. The two squads continued to battle back and forth, but at 16-17 Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) captured three kills in a row, which were followed by two attacking errors from the Terriers to give RMU a 22-16 lead. The Terriers were never able to catch up to the Colonials and Robert Morris went on to win 25-19 for the match win.  

Craig led the Colonials in both kills and digs with nine and 11, respectively and also tallied a match-high three service aces. Graham added eight kills and two blocks, while Veith led the squad with five blocks. Bennett finished with a match-high 32 assists and added five kills, two service aces and three blocks to the win.

The Colonials return to action on Saturday, October 31 when they take on Central Connecticut State in New Britain, Conn.