NEC Tournament Final – Sunday, November 23 – 3:00 PM
#2 Robert Morris vs. #1 LIU Brooklyn (24-6, 14-0 NEC)
Steinberg Wellness Center – Brooklyn, N.Y. Against the Blackbirds – Robert Morris fell to 20-20 all-time against LIU Brooklyn after a three-set defeat on Nov. 16, giving the Blackbirds their ninth straight victory over the Colonials. RMU's last win over LIU came on Sept. 24, 2011 in four sets as
Erica Robb registered a double-double with 18 kills and 14 digs and Hannah Vieth added 14 kills on a .632 hitting percentage with seven blocks (1 solo, 6 assist).
Scouting LIU Brooklyn – The Blackbirds are looking for their third-straight NEC Tournament title after going undefeated in regular-season conference play. Outside of NEC action, LIU Brooklyn has collected some big wins this season over No. 25 Michigan State and Alabama - both coming in five sets. Offensively, the Blackbirds are paced by three-time NEC Player of the Year, Annika Foit. Foit has tallied 452 kills this season on a .242 hitting percentage and is one of two players in the conference - Tamara Ignjic being the other - who are averaging four or more kills per set. Senior setter Vera Djuric has dished out a NEC-high 1,138 assists this season, good for 10.74 per frame. Junior libero Adriana Vinas Joy paces LIU Brooklyn with 505 digs and is tied for the team lead with 33 service aces. Middle blockers Nicole Okeke and Mengdi Zhao have collected 102 (10 solo, 92 assist) and 91 (8 solo, 83 assist) blocks, respectively.
Miss November – In the 2001 World Series, Derek Jeter hit an extra-inning, walk-off homerun to earn the nickname Mr. November. With the Colonial volleyball team gearing up for postseason play this weekend, is there anyone that might follow in the recently retired New York Yankees' shortstop's footsteps?
Kristin Thompson,
Becky Jay, and
Hannah Hoffman might have cases.
Thompson has been efficient offensively in three postseason contests. She has found the floor 17 times on 41 swings and misfired on three attempts for a hitting percentage of .341. Her fellow middle blocker has hit at a .583 clip in three NEC Tournament matches with 22 kills. Jay has also collected 18 block assists, 10 of which came in 2012 against Central Connecticut State. Meanwhile, Hoffman has dished out 98 assists, collected 29 digs, and tallied five kills in 13 postseason sets.
The Streaks Continue – Robert Morris is playing in its 16th consecutive NEC Tournament after clinching a spot on Nov. 2 against Bryant. This streak is the conference's longest active one, dating back to 1999 when the Colonials advanced to their first NCAA Tournament.
In each of those 16 seasons, RMU has posted a winning record in conference play; the longest such streak of any NEC member, past or present. The Colonials extended this streak on Oct. 26 with a four-set victory at Sacred Heart and finished with a conference mark of 12-2 - their highest NEC winning percentage under
Dale Starr's tenure.
Blockin' Becky – After collecting six block assists in the Colonials' three-set NEC Tournament victory over Saint Francis U.,
Becky Jay is on the cusp of making even more history.
Jay has collected 460 total blocks in her career, one shy of surpassing the mark set by Kristie Tuxford (1992-95). The senior middle blocker has extended her block assist lead to 36 over Amanda Graham (2007-10) with 391, while her 66 solo blocks are good for ninth in the program record books.
Know Your Enemy –
Kristin Thompson has had success against LIU Brooklyn this season, tallying 15 kills on 39 swings with two errors for a hitting percentage of .333. Defensively, Thompson has collected 10 block assists.
Sydney Sizemore has registered 11 kills on 31 attempts with three misfires for a hitting percentage of .258. In both meetings with the Blackbirds, the senior outside hitter has collected two block assists.
Can't Knock the Hustle – The Colonials have hit their stride defensively in conference play, leading the NEC in blocks per set (2.92), total blocks (155.0), and total digs (939). RMU is also second in digs per set with a mark of 17.72 and opponent hitting percentage at .150.
Individually, in conference matches,
Becky Jay and
Kristin Thompson are second and third in the NEC in blocks per set with respective marks of 1.42 and 1.36. Jay is also second in the conference in total blocks (75.0) and block assists (66).
Melissa Bograd is second in total digs with 242 and fourth in digs per set with a mark of 4.57.
