Box Score Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University volleyball team had four student-athletes record double-doubles in the same match for the first time since 2003, but it was not enough to overcome a resilient Duquesne squad as the Dukes took a non-conference affair, 27-25, 26-28, 25-17, 25-21, from the hosts Tuesday evening at the Charles L. Sewall Center.
Junior outside hitter Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun), match-high 20 kills and 10 digs, freshman outside hitter Erica Robb (Novi, Mich. / Novi), season-high 13 kills and season-high 15 digs, junior opposite hitter Amanda Craig (Houston, Texas / St. Agnes Academy), 11 kills and 16 digs, and freshman setter Hannah Hoffman (Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa), match-high 51 assists and season-high 10 digs, all registered double-doubles in just four sets against the Dukes. It marked the first time in RMU's past 232 matches that a quartet of Colonials all achieved such a feat.
Robb's double-double, in which she hit a season-high .333, and Hoffman's double-double, in which she tallied five kills on eight attempts without an error, were both the first of their young careers. Hoffman's 51 assists were the most by a Colonial in Robert Morris' past 76 matches, and she also helped RMU post its most kills (63) and most assists (59) in a match that did not last five sets since 2007.
Monger notched her third double-double in her past four matches and registered double-figure kills in four consecutive matches for the second time in her career with her performance. Her 20 kills were also the most by a Colonial at home since August of 2009. Craig grabbed her second double-double in her past three matches, tied her season high in kills and also contributed four assists and three blocks.
Duquesne jumped out to an early 11-6 lead in the opening set and seemed to be in command, but RMU refused to let the game get away as the Colonials responded with a 7-2 spurt to even the proceedings, 13-13. From that point forward in the first set, neither team led by more than two as the squads were tied at 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25. RMU had a set point at 24-23, but the Dukes were able to save it after using their final timeout. A kill by Monger saved a Duquesne set point at 24-25, but the visitors were finally able to snatch back-to-back exchanges to take the opener.
The second set proved to somehow be even closer than the first as it featured 18 ties with neither side leading by more than three points for the duration of the game. RMU quickly fought back from a slim 10-7 deficit to level that match but was once again trailing, 20-18, late in the set. Kills by Monger and then Robb, both courtesy of Hoffman, saved two set points for the Colonials as the teams were then deadlocked at 26-26. A second-consecutive kill by Robb from Hoffman and an ace from freshman middle blocker Becky Jay (Parma, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) produced back-to-back points for Robert Morris and leveled the match.
Duquesne opened up an early 6-1 lead in the third set and refused to let RMU get back into the game. The Colonials played closely with the Dukes for the middle and latter portions of the set, but Robert Morris was unable to catch Duquesne as the visitors took the two sets to one advantage.
The beginning of the fourth set was tight once again with neither team able to gain any significant edge. Robert Morris used a 5-2 spout to knot the game, 17-17, but the Dukes were able to close the deal by finishing the set on an 8-4 run.
Jay posted a team season-high and match-high seven blocks for RMU to help the Colonials outblock the Dukes, 10-5, and also added a match-high two aces.
Freshman libero Melissa Bograd (Lemont, Ill. / Lemont) was the fifth Colonial to reach double figures in digs by collecting 16 as she also hit double digits in that department for the fifth-consecutive match. Senior captain Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) added 11 kills to reach double figures in that category for the third time in the last four matches.
After this brief appearance at home, Robert Morris will once again travel this weekend as the Colonials head to the Kent State Open. RMU will take on William & Mary for the first time in program history Friday, Sept. 9, at 11:00 a.m. before facing the host Golden Flashes that evening. The Colonials will complete the tournament Saturday morning with a match against IUPUI.
