Box Score

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – November 9, 2013 - The Robert Morris University volleyball team hit the road for its final trip of the regular season.  In the first of two matches this weekend, the Colonials defeated St. Francis Brooklyn in four sets; 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 25-17.  The victory earned RMU a postseason berth in the Northeast Conference Tournament for the 15th consecutive season.

The Robert Morris (8-19, 7-4 NEC) attack was powered by sophomore middle blocker Kristin Thompson (Monroe, Ohio / Bishop Fenwick) who set a new career high with 13 kills.  Her output was equaled by freshman April Krivoniak (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) as the most kills by a Colonial in the match.

St. Francis Brooklyn (6-23, 2-9 NEC) and the Colonials would battle back-and-forth in the opening set as the two teams traded the lead four times and were tied on eleven other occasions.  After relinquishing the lead early in the set, Robert Morris would retake the advantage during a four-point run that flipped a deficit into a 14-11 lead for the Colonials.  During the run, RMU received an ace from Sydney Sizemore (Taylor Mill, Ky. / Holy Cross) and a pair of blocks that Thompson would have a hand in.  The Terriers would rally to tie the set, 20-20, and fight with RMU point-for-point until Arden Fisher (Oakmont, Pa. / Riverview) recorded a pair of kills to end the set with the score 25-23.

The second set saw the Colonials jump out to a 7-1 lead after a six-point run in which Thompson recorded two kills and a block assist.  Three different four-point runs by the Terriers would allow St. Francis Brooklyn to claw back and tie the match, 18-18.  Robert Morris would allow the Terriers to take the lead when the score was 21-20, but RMU ended the set by taking five of the final six points that included a pair of kills from Hannah Hoffman (Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa).

While the Colonials would have their sights set on a sweep of St. Francis Brooklyn, the Terriers would have a different idea.  The Terriers would take the lead early thanks in part to a seven-point run that opened up a 9-2 deficit facing Robert Morris.  RMU would battle back and claim its first lead of the set with the score 19-18.  The Colonials would hold that lead until the Terriers took back the advantage with the score 24-23.  Robert Morris was able to fend off a set point just once after Thompson recorded a kill, but the Terriers forced a fourth set after winning the third, 26-24.

The Colonials rose to the occasion in the fourth set, holding the lead from wire-to-wire.  Robert Morris began with a five-point run and after a single point from the Terriers, the Colonials went on a four-point run to hold an eight-point advantage, 9-1.  Another four-point run was in the cards as RMU continued to carry the momentum and an 11-point lead, 14-3.  The Terriers would try to battle back with a five-point run of their own, but the run only brought them to within six points of Robert Morris.  The set and match ended on a kill from Erica Robb (Novi, Mich. / Novi).

 Along with Krivoniak and Thompson, Fisher would also record doube-digit kills with 12 in the match.  Fisher would also contribute a match-high 24 digs for her eighth career double-double.  Hoffman finished the match with five kills and 49 assists.  The Colonials recorded seven aces as a team with Sizemore and Becky Jay (Parma, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) leading the way with a pair of aces each.  At the net, RMU recorded 14 blocks on the afternoon, eight of which were provided by Thompson – two solo blocks and six block assists.  Jay would provide a solo block as well as five block assists in the rotation with Thompson.

All four spots in the 2013 NEC Volleyball Tournament have been claimed, but the final positioning has yet to be determined.  Currently, Robert Morris is tied with Sacred Heart in third place.  The two teams sit behind LIU Brooklyn and Central Connecticut State.

The Colonials will face two postseason foes in their final three regular season games.  Tomorrow, RMU will take on LIU Brooklyn at 3:00 p.m.  Robert Morris will then return home for matches against Sacred Heart and Fairleigh Dickinson that will have major implications on the postseason seeding.