Moon Township, Pa. – Oct. 4, 2008 – The Robert Morris University volleyball team, led by sixth-year head coach Rob Thomas extended their record to 12-7-0 and started the conference season 1-0-0 with a dominant 3-0 win over St. Francis (N.Y.) and followed it with a 3-1 victory over future conference member Bryant.

In match one against St. Francis (N.Y.), Robert Morris easily took set one, earning a 25-15 win.  Senior outside hitter Emily Wolthuis (Byron Center, Mich. / South Christian) and freshman middle blocker Hannah Veith (Columbus, Ohio / Worthington) each put in an impressive five kills, while senior Cassie Lee (Vista, Calif. / Vista) hit 1.000 with three kills in the win.

The Colonials performed almost identically in the second set and downed the Terriers 25-11. Wolthuis added another five kills to her collection. As a team, Robert Morris earned 15 kills to SFNY's five and hit .480 to the Terriers .050.

Robert Morris wrapped up the match in the third set, winning 25-12. Junior Jessy Nelko (Aliquippa, Pa. / Hopewell) entered the third set and made an immediate impact earning eight kills on nine attempts. Nelko's eight kills in a single game is one of the highest in Robert Morris history.

Wolthuis led all hitters with 13 kills on .524 hitting to go along with eight digs. Nelko finished the match with eight kills on .889 hitting and Veith added seven kills on a .778 hitting percentage.

Freshman Alyssa Bennett (Ramona, Calif. / Ramona) ended with a match high 34 assists, seven digs and four kills with 100 percent efficiency.

The second match of the day for the Colonials presented a more difficult challenge, as it took them four sets to take down Bryant.

The Colonials and the Bulldogs kept the first set within one for the majority of set. Despite earning three more kills than Bryant in the first set, the Bulldogs were able to take set one, 25-22.

Robert Morris entered set two fired up and started out with a 3-1 lead with a block from Wolthuis and a kill from sophomore Charla Drabant (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton North). Bryant was able to bring it back within one, but the Colonials continued to lead for the rest of the match. The Bulldogs tied it up at 24, but two back-to-back kills by Veith secured the win.

Bryant led in set three until the Bryant setter mishandled a ball and knotted the score at 8-8. The Colonials took that momentum and carried it to a 15-12 lead. The Bulldogs were never able to recover and Robert Morris took the set 25-20.

The Colonials started set four with a kill by Wolthuis, a put down by Lee and an ace by Bennett. Although the Colonials started off 3-0, the Bulldogs never disappeared, staying within one for a majority of the set. However, the Colonials stayed strong and earned the 25-20 set four win and match victory.

A trio of Colonials earned double-digit kills with Wolthuis leading the way with 14, sophomore middle blocker Amanda Graham (Melbourne, Fla. / Eau Gallie) adding 11 and Veith contributing 10. Veith led the team in hitting percentage with a .500 average, while freshman Bennett led the team in assists, blocks and service aces with 48,four and three, respectively.

Wolthuis also contributed 14 digs to earn a double-double and senior libero Alaina Gibson (Muncie, Ind. / Muncie Burris) grabbed a team high 17 digs. Sophomore Corinne Moser (Meyersdale, Pa. / Meyersdale) and Lee also added double-digit digs with 10 apiece.

The Colonials head to Morgantown on Wednesday, Oct. 8 to take on West Virginia at 7:00 p.m.