Teaneck, N.J. – The Robert Morris University volleyball team found its way back to the win column with a convincing 3-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson Saturday afternoon at Stratis Arena.
 
With the win, RMU (7-11, 1-2 NEC) tabbed its first conference victory of the season and snapped a seven-match losing skid.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Lord and senior outside Arden Fisher led the way with a pair of double-doubles. Lord recorded 13 kills at a season-high .423 hitting percentage, 11 digs, and two service aces. Fisher notched 12 kills, 14 digs, and three block assists. Senior April Krivoniak chipped in with 12 digs and two aces. Junior setter Brianna Frakes handed out 35 assists and added three kills.
 
The Colonials boasted their best team hitting percentage (.286) on the season, and topped the Knights in kills (45 to 30), assists (41 to 28), digs (59 to 47), service aces (6 to 0), and total team blocks (4.0 to 2.0).
 
"We accomplished what we wanted to do," said head coach Dale Starr. "We wanted to serve tough and cut down on our errors and I think for the most part we did that today. We averaged right around 15 kills a set, dug almost 20 balls a set, and hit at a pretty high percentage. Any time that you can come out and win a game like that on the road, fairly efficiently, serves as a good day. I thought Taylor [Lord] had a really solid match. She served well and was really efficient. When we can get that kind of clean production from our outsides, we're going to have pretty good success."
 
Robert Morris opened set three on an 8-2 run to set the stage for a 3-0 sweep. RMU led by as many as 11 points, 20-9, after a kill from Frakes, assisted by sophomore Holly Brennan. FDU (1-18, 0-3 NEC) made one final push and claimed five of the final seven points in the set on a 5-1 run, but the Colonials had already amassed too large of a lead and secured the match win with a kill from Lord.
 
The Knights took an early 6-3 lead in set two, but the Colonials responded with 11 unanswered points to flip the momentum and go ahead, 14-6. Robert Morris remained in control through the remainder of the frame, and took a 2-0 match lead with a 25-17 set victory.
 
RMU set the tone early with a 9-3 scoring streak to open the match. They closed the set on a 6-1 run and claimed the frame by a 10-point margin.
 
The Colonials are back in NEC action tomorrow against league leader Sacred Heart at 1:00 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn.
 
"We know what we're up against with Sacred Heart," Starr stated. "It's always a tough place to play and our kids have been battle tested up there. We'll watch a little film in the morning and get our heads wrapped around getting to 2-2 [in NEC play]. With Bryant losing to Central Connecticut yesterday, it's opened things up. It's going to be very hard for any team to go undefeated in this conference. It's going to be a battle every weekend. If we can go and get another win tomorrow, we'll be right back in the thick of things."
 
 
Making History
With the first 11 of her 12 kills today, senior Arden Fisher moved to fourth place all-time in individual career kills (1,109) at Robert Morris.
 
Trending
Senior Arden Fisher has posted a double-double in 15 of 17 matches played this season. Her streak of 11 matches with a double-double to start a season marks the longest season-opening streak in Robert Morris history dating back to 2003. She leads the Colonials in kills (219) and digs (358). Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Lord has recorded a double-double in nine of her last 14 outings. She is averaging 2.35 kills and 3.65 digs per set.
 
National Radar
Senior Arden Fisher currently ranks No. 15 in the nation in digs per set (5.34) after spending the first two weeks at number one. As a team, Robert Morris ranks eighth in the nation in digs per set (17.79).
 
Success Under Starr
The Colonials posted their best overall winning percentage (.594) under head coach Dale Starr last season. Starr is one win shy of his 100th victory as head coach of the Robert Morris volleyball program and five victories short of his 200^th career win at the Division I level.
 
 
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