Box Score Box Score (PDF)Milwaukee, Wisc. – The
Robert Morris University volleyball team closed out the Panther Invitational by dropping a five-set heartbreaker to North Dakota State this afternoon at the J. Martin Klotsche Center.
North Dakota State (1-2, 0-0 Summit) held edges over Robert Morris (0-3, 0-0 NEC) in kills (67), assists (60), block assists (13), and points (79.5), while the Colonials topped the Bison in hitting percentage (.248), digs (63), and solo blocks (3).
Sophomore outside hitter
Arden Fisher registered her third double-double in as many games as she tallied 19 kills and 15 digs on the afternoon. Fellow sophomore
April Krivoniak and senior middle blocker
Becky Jay added 14 and eight kills, respectively.
After dropping the opening set, RMU rebounded by taking the second frame. The Colonials started off cold and fell behind 5-0, but a kill from Fisher stopped the bleeding. Another kill from Fisher and one from Krivoniak helped cut into the Bison lead, then senior libero
Melissa Bograd fired a service ace to knot things up at 7-7.
Two attack errors gave the Colonials their first lead, something they wouldn't relinquish for the remainder of the set. Jay picked up a solo block, block assist, and kill to extend the advantage to a set-high five points, but NDSU battled back to tie it at 19-19. RMU would answer with a 6-3 run to close out the frame, thanks in part to an ace and kill from Krivoniak, along a kill and three assists from senior setter
Hannah Hoffman.
The Colonials dropped the third set, 25-15, but bounced back to force a fifth frame with a 25-16 win. Sophomore middle blocker
Leah Dunivan provided a spark during the set with four kills, a solo block, and a block assist.
Knotted up at 10, Jay helped push RMU back into the lead with a kill and a block assist. The advantage dropped from four to two points briefly, but a six-point run with two kills from Fisher helped the Colonials en route to a set victory.
The Bison jumped out to an early two-point lead in the final frame and extended it to 7-3 before head coach
Dale Starr burned a timeout. Kills from Jay and Fisher cut the advantage back to two, but a three-point run by NDSU forced another timeout by Starr. RMU would again pull within two at 11-9, but the Bison closed the match out with a 4-1 burst to pick up the win.
Bograd led the Colonials with 18 digs, while freshman setter
Brianna Frakes dished out 34 assists. Jay paced RMU in block assists with three.
Robert Morris travels back to the Steel City to host West Virginia on Labor Day. The match is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. start from the Charles L. Sewall Center
