Baltimore, Md. - The Robert Morris University volleyball team split their first day of action at the Maddie Bingaman Memorial Tournament.  The Colonials fell in straight sets to host UMBC by the scores of 20-25, 22-25, and 20-25.  Later in the day, RMU would sweep Howard by the scores of 25-13, 25-20, and 26-24.

In a match that was much closer than the score, Robert Morris fell to UMBC in straight sets.  The Colonials were led by senior Lindsey Monger (Rising Sun, Md. / Rising Sun) who recorded her third-straight double-double with ten kills and eleven digs.  Also contributing to the Colonial attack was sophomore Erica Robb (Novi, Mich. / Novi) who tallied eight kills.  As a team Robert Morris managed seven blocks while sophomore Becky Jay (Parma, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) assisted on each of the seven, a match high.

In the first match, both teams traded the lead early on before UMBC would pull away when they reached ten points.  From there the Colonials would never recover as they never got within three points before UMBC won the set 20-25.  The second set saw the lead change hands seven times including with the score tied at 21.  UMBC would then score four of the next five points to win the set 22-25.  In the final set, the Colonials would never lead and a six-point run by UMBC would lead them to a victory by the score of 20-25.

In the second game of the day for Robert Morris, the team held an attacking percentage of .233 and Monger hit .419 while achieving her second double-double of the day (20 kills, 13 digs).  The Colonials were able to block nine attack attempts by Howard as Jay notched two solo blocks and five block assists.  Sophomore Hannah Hoffman (Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa) contributed a game-high 23 assists.

In the first set, Robert Morris was able to obtain leads of 10-5 and 20-10 as Howard was never able to sustain a run of any substance.  By outscoring the Bison at a two-to-one margin, RMU was easily able to win the first set by the score of 25-13.  In the second set, the score indicated a much closer set but the Colonials hit a higher percentage than their first set victory.  As a team, Robert Morris hit .342 in the set.  The teams traded advantages multiple times until the Colonials were able to go on a 7-2 run to close out the Bison in the second set by the score of 25-20.  Robert Morris came out for the third set looking for their second sweep of the season, but it would not come easy.  There would be five lead changes in the final set, including when the Colonials rallied back from set point down 23-24.  The Colonials tied the set at 24 after a kill by Monger and then took the lead after Monger again spiked the ball on the Bison.  The set would be won on a team block by Monger and fellow senior Una Japundza (Rovinj, Croatia / Zvane Crnja).

The Colonials look to build off of their sweep of Howard as they continue play in the second day of the invitational.  RMU's first match will be against Pac-12 opponent Colorado at 2:00 p.m. before finishing up against James Madison at 7:00 p.m.