Moon Township, Pa. - Junior outside hitter Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) became the first Colonial since 2004 to have at least 20 kills and at least 20 digs in the same match as the Robert Morris University volleyball team won its fifth-consecutive match by grinding out a 25-16, 25-19, 22-25, 29-27 win over Fairleigh Dickinson in Northeast Conference (NEC) action Saturday afternoon at the Charles L. Sewall Center.

Monger posted a match-high tying 21 kills and a team-best 21 digs to record her team-leading eighth double-double of the season, matching her total from a season ago with 13 regular-season matches remaining. She also became the first Colonial since August 2005 to register at least 20 kills in back-to-back matches in a single season and now has four 20+ kill matches in 2011, also the most by a Colonial in a single season since 2005.

With the win, Robert Morris remained in first place in the NEC and is one of just two squads in the conference that is undefeated in league play. RMU has now won seven of its last eight matches overall and 19 of its past 22 NEC matches.

"Lindsey and Hannah Veith really stepped in the tough situations today," head coach Dale Starr said. "I think Erica took some big swings during the key stretches as well so that was good to see. We made a lot of unforced errors to get that point. We just have to figure out a way to be better at finishing, but I'm pleased that we came out on top and that we kept fighting and scratching and clawing during the final rallies of the fourth set."

Senior captain Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) tied her career high with 19 kills and hit a match-high .405 (min. five attempts). Veith, who also notched five blocks, has now hit at least .400 in five of her past seven matches and has posted double-figure kills in 11 of her past 15 matches.

Freshman outside hitter Erica Robb (Novi, Mich. / Novi) was the third Colonial to reach double-digit kills on the afternoon, tallying her third double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs.

Freshman setter Hannah Hoffman (Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa) helped lead the RMU offense with a match-high 44 assists and also contributed eight digs and three blocks.

The first set proved to be the most lopsided of the four, but it remained close for much of the way. Although RMU won five straight points to jump out to a 9-4 lead, the Knights quickly responded and would even the score at 10 apiece. With the squads still neck and neck and RMU up just one, 15-14, the Colonials broke the game open with a 8-0 run that gave them a 23-14 advantage. Veith had three kills during the stretch and Robb added two as Robert Morris maintained its nine-point edge to conclude the set in which it never trailed.

RMU used a 10-3 run to break a 5-5 deadlock in the early going of the second set, opening up a seven-point lead. After a timeout, however, Fairleigh Dickinson fought back to work its way back into the game and soon cut the lead to just a single point, 17-16. Similar to the first game, the Colonials refused to concede the lead as they used an 8-3 spurt to take the important two-set cushion.

The third set was a very tight affair throughout as the Colonials and Knights were tied 18 times and neither side led by more than three points. With the teams knotted, 16-16, Fairleigh Dickinson won three straight points, but Robert Morris immediately returned the favor, evening the score. The sides were then tied at 19, 20, 21 and 22 before the Knights again won three straight points to extend the match.

The fourth set was full of thrilling twists and turns and proved to be RMU's longest set thus far in 2011. Robert Morris used an early 10-4 spurt to take a 15-9 advantage and appeared as though it was close to finishing. The Knights had other ideas, though, and soon evened the set, 17-17. The sides split the ensuing 10 points, leaving each just three from the game. Fairleigh Dickinson then won back-to-back rallies to give the Knights a chance at a final set. RMU responded with two points of its own to tie the game, 24-24. A kill by Monger would save another Knight game point at 24-25 to continue to set. The sides continued to battle, and Fairleigh Dickinson had its fourth set point at 27-26, but the Colonials' determination won out. RMU won three consecutive points in a highly-energized closing sequence, courtesy of two Monger kills, to claim the game, 29-27,  and the match in the process.

Freshman middle blocker Becky Jay (Parma, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) posted a match-high six blocks while also recording a season-best five digs.

In addition to Monger and Robb, freshman Melissa Bograd (Lemont, Ill. / Lemont) and junior Andrea Catucci (Davidsonville, Md. / Archbishop Spalding) both reached double digits in the dig department with 14 and 10, respectively.

RMU moved to 19-6 all-time against the Knights with the win.

Robert Morris will resume its homestand next weekend with a pair of NEC matches Saturday, Oct. 8, at 3:00 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 9, at 1:00 p.m. The Colonials will face Bryant and Central Connecticut State, respectively.