Box Score Hamden, Conn. - The Robert Morris University volleyball team posted strong, balanced performances both offensively and defensively, drilling 63 kills and posting 92 digs in just four sets, to help lead the Colonials to their fifth-consecutive road victory Sunday afternoon as RMU downed Quinnipiac in Northeast Conference (NEC) action at Burt Kahn Court.
Robert Morris, which has claimed victories in eight of its past 10 matches, has won five straight on the road for the first time in over six years and has also won eight consecutive NEC matches away from home, its longest such streak since one that spanned the 2003-05 seasons.
The Colonials averaged 23 digs per set, tallying their highest number of digs in a match that did not last five sets since Sept. 13, 2005 against West Virginia. RMU's 63 kills tied its output from earlier this season against Duquesne as its most in a match that did not go the distance since 2007.
"I was pleased with the way we fought, especially rallying from behind in game one, coming off such an emotional win yesterday evening," head coach Dale Starr said. "Hannah Veith once again had a great match, and an unbelievable week, but it was nice to see us be a little more balanced on offense with the contributions we received from Amanda and Erica. Our blocking was not at its best today, but I thought Lindsey as well as Erica both played strong matches defensively, which helped give us some transition opportunities."
As has been the theme for the Colonials in recent matches, senior captain Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) led the offensive display by tying her career high with 19 kills. She reached that match-high total on just 25 attempts to hit an astounding .680 as she tallied double-digit kills in her sixth-consecutive match, a new career-best, and the ninth time in her past 10 matches overall. Veith, who is hitting .495 with 3.87 kills/set in NEC play after one match against every league foe, has topped a .400 hitting percentage mark in eight of her past 10 matches, including surging past the .600 mark four times during that stretch.
Junior Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) again contributed on both sides of the equation for RMU by tallying her 12th double-double of the season, the most by a Colonial since the 2004 campaign. Monger put down 12 kills and added a team-best 19 digs to notch her seventh double-double in her past eight matches. It was her 10th straight match with double-figure digs, a new career best for the junior, and the best such streak for RMU since 2007.
Fellow outside hitter, freshman Erica Robb (Novi, Mich. / Novi), had one of her best all-around performances of the season as she posted her fourth double-double with 16 kills and a season-high 18 digs. Robb also only committed three hitting errors to tie her season-high in hitting percentage at .333.
Freshman Hannah Hoffman (Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa) joined Robb in registering her fourth double-double of the season as she collected a match-high 52 assists and a season-high 12 digs. Hoffman, who added five kills on 13 attempts, has now surpassed the 40-assist plateau in five of the last six matches.
Robert Morris struggled to get started in the opening game as the Bobcats used a 10-4 run to break a 7-7 tie, giving the hosts a six-point lead. Not long after a Colonial timeout and with Quinnipiac leading 18-12, RMU responded with a 12-4 burst to suddenly earn a pair of set points. The Bobcats were able to save the first two and soon earned two of their own at 27-26 and 28-27, but each time Monger was up to the task as the junior put down a kill and notched a solo block to save both. After a Bobcat miscue, Robb nailed a kill to give RMU the victory in its longest set thus far this season, 30-28, as RMU utilized 20 kills to help it claim the opening game.
The Colonials used the momentum from the thrilling game one win to begin the second set as they took each of the first six points. RMU never looked back as it led by at least four the rest of the way, took its first double-digit edge at 15-5 and cruised to a 25-12 victory and a two-set cushion.
Quinnipiac refused to go away in the third set as it used a 6-1 spurt to take the lead after the teams evenly divided the first 10 points. RMU came right back, though, with a 7-2 run to even the game at 13 apiece. The squads were still deadlocked 18 points later, with each just three away from winning the set, but it was the Bobcats who were able to claim three consecutive rallies to continue the match.
Quinnipiac won three straight points to break an early tie in the fourth and held an 8-5 edge. However, Robert Morris soon flipped a switch as it went on a remarkable tear, winning 20 of the ensuing 24 points to claim victory in both the set and match. Robb tallied four kills while Veith added three in the closing stretch.
Junior Amanda Craig (Houston, Texas / St. Agnes Academy) finished with 10 kills and a .304 hitting mark for RMU to post her seventh double-digit kill performance of the season.
Along with the trio of Colonials to earn double-doubles, two more posted double-figure dig efforts to aid RMU. Freshman Melissa Bograd (Lemont, Ill. / Lemont) tallied her 15th such match of the season by posting 15 digs while Andrea Catucci (Davidsonville, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) recorded 10 digs and a pair of aces.
Veith joined Monger as one of two Colonials to tally double-digit kills in six straight matches this season.
Robert Morris will continue its four-match roadtrip next Saturday, Oct. 22, as it begins its second go-around against its NEC foes. The Colonials will face Fairleigh Dickinson at 1:00 p.m.
