Box Score Smithfield, R.I. - Sophomore Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) recorded her fourth career double-double and was one of three Colonials to reach double figure in kills as the Robert Morris University volleyball team won its fifth consecutive Northeast Conference (NEC) match with an incredible comeback as RMU overcame Bryant, 15-25, 20-25, 25-18, 25-22, 15-8, Sunday afternoon at the Chace Athletic Center to collect its second consecutive five-game victory.
With the win, RMU moves to 9-2 in NEC play and inches closer to qualifying for its 12th consecutive NEC Tournament. Monger registered her second double-double in the last three matches on the strength of 12 kills and 15 digs, and Robert Morris put three players in double digits in kills for the third consecutive conference match.
"We showed a lot of fight and character to come back and win," head coach Dale Starr said. "Addie had a good match and sparked our comeback with her play at the net. The setters did a good job with distribution today. Lindsey Monger had a strong match and Corinne really made some clutch plays in game four and five for us. I am pleased with the win and the character the girls showed. I hope we have something left for our one match remaining on the trip."
Junior Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) led RMU with match highs of 14 kills and a .387 hitting percentage while also contributing five blocks. Senior captain Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie) added 12 kills and a match-high nine blocks, tying her career high. With the impressive blocking performance, Graham became just the third Colonial to surpass the 400-block mark for her career and simultaneously becomes just the second RMU player to have at least 1,000 kills and 400 blocks in her career. Veith and Graham also moved into solo second and third place on RMU's single-season total blocks list with their totals of 119 and 116, respectively.
Graham reached double figures in kills for the 13th time this season and the fifth time in her last six matches, the first time she has produced such a six-match stretch since September 2007. Veith collected her 10th match with at least 10 kills this season and has hit at least .350 during the Colonials' current conference winning streak. Senior captain Charla Drabant (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton North) also contributed for Robert Morris by adding eight kills, 14 digs, three blocks and an ace.
Bryant jumped out quickly in the match, taking five of the first six points. Robert Morris cut the lead to two, 6-4, but the Bulldogs would not let the Colonials get any closer as Bryant responded with a 7-2 run to take a seven-point lead. The lead would vary from five to 10 points during the duration of game one as Bryant wrapped it up with little drama.
The Bulldogs used a similar strategy in game two to continue their momentum. Bryant won six of the first seven points to take a five-point edge. The Bulldog lead remained remarkably consistent throughout the remainder of the game as the Colonials could get no closer than four and Bryant was unable to push its margin past six. Nonetheless, the early lead helped the Bulldogs take a commanding two-game cushion.
Robert Morris dropped 10 of the first 15 points and still trailed by five, 12-7, near the midpoint of game three. Seemingly on the verge of being swept, RMU suddenly sprang to life, taking seven of the next nine points to knot the game, 14-14. Still tied two points later, Robert Morris proceeded to go on an 8-1 run in which Graham collected two kills and a block to give RMU a 23-16 lead. Kills from sophomore Amanda Craig (Houston, Texas / St. Agnes Academy) and Veith allowed RMU to extend the match.
The fourth game proved to have a different beginning as the teams split the first 20 points with neither side leading by more than two. Bryant then took five straight rallies to take control. The Bulldogs extended their lead to six points at 20-14 and appeared on the threshold of taking the match. Robert Morris went on to collect kills on five consecutive points--three by Graham, one by Drabant and one by Monger--to pull within one, 20-19. Bryant briefly stopped the run and led 22-20, but the Colonials were determined to pull through. Monger produced two kills and Veith added a kill and a block on four straight points before sophomore Andrea Catucci (Davidsonville, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) served an ace on game point to tie the match, 2-2.
The Colonials finally had a strong start to a game and it came in the decisive affair. RMU won 10 of the first 13 points as senior Addie Jennings (Santa Barbara, Calif. / Dos Pueblos) helped the cause during the run with two kills and a block. The teams split the next 10 points, which clinched the game and the match for RMU. Jennings' strong final-game effort helped her tie her career highs in both kills (6) and blocks (4).
Senior captain Corinne Moser (Meyersdale, Pa. / Meyersdale) led the defensive effort for RMU with a match-high 26 digs, the second highest total of her collegiate career. Freshman Alex Deines (Centennial, Colo. / Littleton) and Catucci setup the RMU attack with 27 and 25 assists, respectively--it was also the seventh consecutive match in which Deines reached at least 20 assists.
It was the first back-to-back five-game victories for RMU since 2008 and its first over conference foes since 2004.
The Colonials will play their third NEC match in three days Monday as RMU travels to New Jersey to take on Fairleigh Dickinson for the first time this season.
