Box Score

Columbia, S.C. – The Robert Morris University volleyball team kicked off their final weekend before Northeast Conference play with one last early-season tournament as the Colonials traveled south to take part in the Carolina Classic.  In the first match of the tournament, Robert Morris (0-11) took on Presbyterian College (2-11).  Despite 20 kills by Arden Fisher (Oakmont, Pa. / Riverview), the Colonials would fall after four tightly-contested sets, 27-29, 25-20, 20-25, 22-25.

The Colonials opened the first set with the first four points of the contest, two of which came from kills by Sydney Sizemore (Taylor Mill, Ky. / Holy Cross).  After Presbyterian took the next two points, Robert Morris went on another four-point run to open up a six-point advantage, 8-2.  The Colonials would extend their lead to eight points, 12-4, before Presbyterian would embark on a six-point run that significantly shortened RMU's advantage.  The run by Presbyterian was stopped with a Robert Morris timeout when the score was 12-10.  Out of the timeout, the Colonials would quickly earn the next two points to push their lead back to four, 14-10.  Presbyterian would rebound to tie the set, 16-16, but RMU would not relinquish the lead just yet.  After becoming tied for a second time, 18-18, the Colonials would relinquish the lead to Presbyterian.  Despite falling behind by three points after giving up the lead, Robert Morris would rebound to tie the set, 22-22, behind two kills from Fisher.  The two teams would exchange points as neither was able to pull ahead to close out the set in regulation.  With the score 27-27, Presbyterian earned its 28th and 29th points after a kill and an attacking error by the Colonials to close out the first set, 29-27.  In the opening set, Fisher would record six of her 20 kills while the Colonials would accumulate a team attacking percentage of .265.

It would take a five-point run by Robert Morris for either team to break open a lead in the second set.  Down one point, 7-6, a block by Leah Dunivan (Troy, Ohio / Miami East) and April Krovoniak (Greensburg, Pa. / Greater Latrobe) would spark the five-point run that put the Colonials up, 11-7.  Presbyterian would string together some points and eventually re-tie the set, 16-16, before taking the lead with the score 19-18.  RMU would regain its composure and earn the final six points to claim the set by a score of 25-20.  The six-point closing run was started with two kills by Fisher to give the Colonials a one-point advantage, 21-20.  After failing to record a block in the first set, Robert Morris finished off the second set with consecutive blocks by the tandem of Fisher and Becky Jay (Parma, Ohio / Padua Franciscan) for its 24th and 25th points.

Despite allowing Presbyterian to claim the first three points of the third set, RMU would quickly respond with a three-point run of their own to tie the set, 4-4.  The early run was started with a kill by Jay and followed by two service aces from Fisher.  Presbyterian would slowly open up a four-point lead with the score 13-9 before the Colonials rallied back to take the lead themselves.  Down 15-12, a five-point run would give Robert Morris its first lead of the set, 17-15, after four kills and a tandem block by Dunivan and Erica Robb (Novi, Mich. / Novi).  The lead for RMU would not last long as Presbyterian regained its advantage en route to a 25-20 set victory after taking six of the final seven points.

Presbyterian would control the fourth set after jumping out to an early 6-0 lead.  It would not be until the score was 19-19 that Robert Morris would pull even.  The tie came after a four-point run that was capped off with a solo block by Fisher.  With the score tied 20-20, the Colonials would allow Presbyterian to take five of the final seven points for the set win by a score of 25-22.

Fisher's 20-kill effort was the first time since October 27, 2012 that a Colonial had recorded at least 20 kills in a match.  Lindsey Monger accomplished that feat against Central Connecticut as one of her four 20-kill performances during her senior season.  Fisher would also contribute four service aces, six digs, one solo block and three block assists for 26.5 points in a losing cause.  Four Colonials would record ten or more digs, a group which was led by Robb with 19 digs.  Krivoniak, Melissa Bograd (Lemont, Ill. / Lemont) and Hannah Hoffman (Parker, Colo. / Ponderosa) also recorded at least ten kills.

RMU concludes play in the Carolina Classic with two matches on Saturday.  The Colonials will start the day with a 1:00 p.m. match against the host school, South Carolina.  The final match will take place at 3:00 p.m. as Robert Morris takes on Western Carolina.