Newark, N.J. –
Robert Morris University volleyball senior middle blocker
Becky Jay became the fifth player in program history to reach 400 total blocks as the Colonials extended their winning streak to six matches with a five-set victory over the New Jersey Institute of Technology this afternoon.
Jay joined Kristie Tuxford (460), Amanda Graham (438), Hannah Veith (422), and Janette Schneider (414) as Robert Morris (7-13, 5-0 NEC) players who reached 400 blocks in their career. The senior middle blocker now sits four block assists away from passing Vieth (342) for second place in the program record books.
Jay and
Kristin Thompson each hit over .400 in the victory, while the latter led the team with eight blocks (2 solo, 6 assist). Four different Colonials collected double-digit digs, including senior libero
Melissa Bograd who had a team-high 14. Senior setter
Hannah Hoffman registered the 18th double-double of her career with 44 assists and 13 digs.
NJIT (6-14) took the first set, 25-21. Senior outside hitter
Erica Robb led RMU with four kills, but the Highlanders hit at a .279 clip to take the frame.
The Colonials rebounded in the second set with a convincing 25-13 victory. Sophomore outside hitter
Madelyn Betts compiled half of her team-high 12 kills in this stanza, while classmate
Arden Fisher converted all four of her attack attempts.
RMU put the pressure on NJIT with a 25-18 win in the middle frame. The middle blocker duo of Jay and Thompson shined offensively in this set, each tallying three kills on a .600 hitting percentage.
The Highlanders would respond with a nail-biting 26-24 victory in the fourth stanza, but RMU picked up its fourth consecutive victory in the fifth set, winning by the score of 15-10.
Robert Morris closes out the non-conference slate of its schedule on Wednesday, Oct. 15 as it takes on in-state rival Duquesne in the Steel City. Opening serve for the match between the Colonials and Dukes is set for 7:00 p.m. from the A.J. Palumbo Center.
