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Box Score 2 Muncie Ind. - Sophomore Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) recorded a career-high and match-high 15 kills as the Robert Morris University volleyball team finished strongly at the Ball State Tournament with a 3-1 victory over Tennessee State Saturday evening at Worthen Arena.
The Colonials (3-4) dropped their opener Saturday, 3-0, falling to the undefeated host Cardinals (6-0).
Monger also registered a team-high 17 digs in the nightcap as she was one of five Colonials to tally double-digit digs. Sophomore opposite Amanda Craig (Houston, Texas / St. Agnes Academy) had 12 kills and hit .344 for the match while two Colonials had double-doubles. Freshman Alex Deines (Centennial, Colo. / Littleton) collected a team-high 27 assists with 14 digs while sophomore Andrea Catucci (Davidsonville, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) collected 16 assists and 10 digs.
RMU and Tennessee State (0-4) were tied 12-12 in the first game before the Colonials won three straight points. Robert Morris would maintain the lead for the remainder of that game, collecting a three-point victory, 25-22.
Robert Morris won one of its most exciting games of the season in game two. RMU trailed by four points, 23-19, late in the game before mounting a furious comeback. The Colonials reeled off four straight points, including kills from Craig and senior captain Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie), to tie the game. However, RMU was not done producing thrilling moments. The Tigers led 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25, but each time a Colonial drilled a kill to save game point. Junior Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington), Monger and senior Charla Drabant (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton North), respectively, helped RMU by knocking kills to keep the Colonials alive. Robert Morris saved four game points overall and finally was able to corral a 31-29 victory in the second game.
The Tigers were able to rebound in game three and collected a 25-23 victory. Robert Morris refused to be denied, though, and quickly ran off the first five points in game four. The hot start proved to be emblematic of the entire game as the Colonials opened up an 11-point edge before the Tigers closed slightly over the final portion of the match. RMU was able to hold on to a relatively comfortable lead and closed the match with a 25-19 victory.
The Tigers were led by Vicmari Prospero's 13 kills.
In its opener Saturday, Craig led the Colonials with 10 kills, while hitting .300, and senior captain Corinne Moser (Meyersdale, Pa. / Meyersdale) topped RMU with 11 digs.
RMU trailed by eight points in the opener, but staged a strong rally, closing to within a single point, 20-19, prompting a Cardinal timeout. Ball State was able to regroup and picked up a 25-21 victory in game one despite RMU hitting .325.
The Cardinals picked up wins in each of the next two games, but neither was easy as the Colonials fell 25-20 and 25-19.
Ball State was led by Jennifer Boyd's 12 kills.
Robert Morris returns to action next weekend in the Canisius / Niagara Tournament where RMU will take on Indiana, Canisius and Colgate, Sept. 10-11.
