Fairfield, Conn. – The
Robert Morris University volleyball team continued its winning ways in Northeast Conference (NEC) play this afternoon, defeating Sacred Heart University in four sets at William H. Pitt Center.
Robert Morris (10-15, 8-1 NEC) completed its first sweep of Sacred Heart (7-15, 2-7 NEC) since the NEC went to a double round-robin scheduling format behind single-game program records in block assists (39) and total blocks (21.5). The previous block assist mark of 36 was set Oct. 13, 2012 against the Pioneers, while the previous total blocks record of 21.0 happened on Sept. 13, 2003.
The Colonials received an assist from the men's soccer team, who came to support RMU after their 3-1 victory earlier in the day.
A day after breaking the program's career block assist record, senior middle blocker
Becky Jay set a new career-high in total blocks with 12. That number is the second highest in program single-game history, tying Hannah Vieth's total from Sept. 20, 2011 against Youngstown State.
Fellow senior
Sydney Sizemore had a match to remember, as she also eclipsed a career-high with nine block assists. Tying a career-best was senior outside hitter
Alena Esposito, who collected five block assists.
Junior middle blocker
Kristin Thompson continued her hot streak, tallying 10 kills on a .500 hitting percentage with seven block assists.
Sophomore outside hitter
Arden Fisher led the Colonials in kills this afternoon with 14, hitting at a season-high .379 clip. As a team, RMU registered a .305 hitting percentage – that number being the program's highest since Nov. 16, 2013 against the SHU.
The Colonials took the opening set, 25-16. Jay and Sizemore combined for nine block assists in the frame, while Fisher converted four of her eight swings with just one error.
The Pioneers bounced back to take the second stanza, 25-23, despite both Thompson and Fisher hitting at .500 clips.
Jay continued her defensive dominance in the third set – a 25-20 RMU victory – picking up both of her solo blocks and three block assists.
The Colonials completed the season sweep of SHU with a 25-15 win in the fourth frame.
Robert Morris returns home next weekend for matches against Central Connecticut State and Bryant. Opening serve for the meeting with the Blue Devils is set for Saturday, Nov. 1 at 1:00 p.m. from the Charles L. Sewall Center.
