Las Cruces, N.M./El Paso, Texas – It was a tough opening day at the Borderland Invitational against the stiffest competition of the season for the Robert Morris University volleyball team, as the Colonials dropped a 3-0 decision to New Mexico State and fell to UTEP, 3-1, on Friday at both home arenas for the co-hosts.

The Colonials (5-4) got off to a slow start in the first match of the day, as the Aggies (7-3) blanked RMU in three quick sets. Robert Morris struggled to produce points on either side of the net, as the Colonials recorded their lowest hitting percentage of the season, and for the first time all year, failed to outdo their opponent in total team blocks. Junior Arden Fisher tallied six kills, six digs and one ace for the Colonials. Freshman Taylor Lord aided the defense in the back row with eight digs, while Kristin Thompson protected the net and accounted for the team's two blocks of the match.

Robert Morris showed improvement in the evening match against the Miners (4-5) and managed to force a set four after edging UTEP in the second, but the Colonials could not quite close out the home team in the final two sets and as a result, fell to 0-2 on the day. Fisher was once again a bright spot for RMU, as she recorded her fifth double-double of the season and 26^th of her career with 11 kills and 25 digs in addition to four block assists. Junior April Krivoniak also posted double figures in two stat columns (10 kills, 10 digs) to earn her first double-double of the season and sixth of her career. Freshman middle blocker Brianna Schmid chipped in with a career-best 11 kills and tied Fisher to lead the Colonials with four block assists.

The Colonials are back at it on Saturday, September 12 with Brown University at 4:30 p.m. in their Borderland Invitational finale.

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