Bowling Green, Ohio - Sept. 12, 2009 - The Robert Morris University Colonials wrapped up the weekend at the Best Western Falcon Plaza Invitational falling to tournament host Bowling Green by a score of 3-1 on Saturday at Anderson Arena. The defeat drops the Colonials to a 3-8 record, while Bowling Green improves to 7-3. Junior Jaye Hellmich (Costa Mesa, Calif. / Estancia) was named to the all-tournament team for her performance.
The Colonials got off to a slow start falling in set one 25-14 with the Falcons leading the entire set. Bowling Green recorded a .483 hitting percentage to the Colonials .185, which led to the commanding win.
The Colonials got off to a strong start in the second set earning the first three points. The Falcons began play with a service error and the Colonials took advantage with kills by Hellmich and senior Jessy Nelko (Aliquippa, Pa. / Hopewell). However, the Falcons went on a five-point run to take the lead 5-3. The Colonials tried to regroup with a time-out, but Bowling Green added to its lead once again with kills by Cassie Berning and Shari Luther. From that point, the Falcons continued to expand its lead and earned its biggest of the night at 15-7. Nelko was able to close in on the gap with two kills, but RMU was never able to catch up to the Falcons and fell, 25-18.
Robert Morris continued to get progressively better in each set, which led to a set three win (25-20). The Colonials started off set three with a 2-0 lead off a kill by Nelko and an attacking error by the Falcons. The two teams continued to trade side-outs until sophomore Alyssa Bennett (Ramona, Calif. / Ramona) went back to the serving line and went on a five point run to gain a 14-9 advantage. The Falcons brought the score within two at 14-12 off kills from Kaitlin Jackson and Emily Kauth, but freshman Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) was able to find a hole in the block to earn her third kill of the set to take back the serve. Junior Corinne Moser (Meyersdale, Pa. / Meyersdale) helped lead the Colonials to their biggest lead of the night at 21-13 after serving four straight points with Hellmich tallying two kills in the process. The Falcons attempted to get back in the set, but the Colonials finished with the win to force a fourth set.
The two teams battled back and forth through the fourth set and despite an aggressive Colonial squad, the Falcons went on to win 25-21 to earn the match win. Bowling Green held the lead for the majority of the set, but the Colonials were able to bring the score within one at 21-20 when freshman Amanda Craig (Houston, Tex. / St. Agnes Academy) hit a hard shot through the Falcon block that went down for a kill. Unfortunately, the Falcons recorded a couple key kills to secure the win.
Monger led the Colonials with 11 kills, which marked her first double-digit kill game of the season. Hellmich added 10 kills on a .300 hitting percentage and led the squad with four blocks. Nelko added nine kills and Moser led the team with 19 digs. Craig was the only other player to earn double-digit digs with 13 and also added eight kills. Sophomore Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) led the team with a .429 hitting percentage and recorded seven put downs. Bennett finished with a match-high 42 assists, four kills and eight digs.
The Colonials return to action on Friday, Sept. 18 when they take on Kent State in the Mizuno Open at 11:00 a.m.
