Brooklyn, N.Y. – Three
Robert Morris University volleyball players claimed Northeast Conference (NEC) postseason accolades at the annual NEC Tournament banquet, held at Luntey Commons in the Schwartz Center this evening.
The three all-conference selections are the most Robert Morris has had under head coach
Dale Starr.
Senior middle blocker
Becky Jay is the lone Colonial on the All-NEC First Team. The former 2012 All-NEC Second Team honoree collected 126 total blocks (22 solo, 104 assist) in 112 sets, averaging 1.12 per frame. That number rose to 1.42 per set in conference matches, good enough for second in the NEC.
One of the most prolific middle blockers in program history, Jay won Molten/NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 27 after tallying a career-high 12 blocks (2 solo, 10 assist) in a four-set victory at Sacred Heart. This was one of two double-digit block efforts from the veteran as she stopped 11 Central Connecticut State attacks (3 solo, 8 assist) and added 11 kills for her first career double-double on Oct. 4.
On Oct. 25, Jay broke the program record for block assists with six against Fairleigh Dickinson. She has since extended her lead to 30 with 385 block assists and is seven total blocks away from breaking Kristie Tuxford's (1992-95) standard of 460.
Sophomore outside hitter
Arden Fisher is one of two RMU players on the All-NEC Second Team, earning the honors after serving as the only postseason honoree in 2013. Fisher leads the Colonials in kills (242) and kills per set (2.44), and is second in digs (347) and digs per set (3.51). In conference play, the sophomore ranked in the top 10 in both kills and digs as she slotted in at 10th and eighth, respectively.
Fisher netted the first Molten/NEC Player of the Week award of 2014 after rattling off four consecutive double-doubles to open up the campaign. The most notable one of her 13 double-doubles this season came on Oct. 5 at Bryant, when she fell one kill shy (19 kills, 20 digs) of posting the first 20-20 game since Lindsay Monger did it on Sept. 11, 2012 against West Virginia.
Joining Fisher on the All-NEC Second Team is junior middle blocker
Kristin Thompson. Thompson battled injuries through part of the season's first half, but thrived after getting healthy in conference play as she led the NEC in hitting percentage (.355) and was third in blocks per set (1.36).
The junior earned Molten/NEC Player of the Week honors on Oct. 27 after collecting 29 kills on a .500 hitting percentage and 12 block assists. That weekend against Fairleigh Dickinson and Central Connecticut State was featured in a stretch that saw Thompson hit at over a .380 clip in six of seven matches and compile double-digit points in eight consecutive contests.
Robert Morris plays tomorrow in the NEC Tournament semifinals against third-seeded Saint Francis U. Opening serve between the Colonials and Red Flash is set for approximately 5:30 p.m. from the Steinberg Wellness Center. The winners of that match and the opening semifinal between top-seeded LIU Brooklyn and fourth-seeded Central Connecticut State will play for the conference's automatic NCAA berth at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23.
