Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University volleyball team put Sacred Heart to the test for four sets, but dropped a 3-1 decision to the Northeast Conference-leading Pioneers on Senior Day Sunday afternoon in the Sewall Center.
 
Seniors Leah Dunivan, Arden Fisher and April Krivoniak were honored in a post-game ceremony following their final regular-season appearance on their home court.
 
Sophomore Brianna Schmid posted a career-high 14 kills at a team-leading .333 hitting percentage to pace the offense. Dunivan recorded her sixth double-figure kill performance of the season with 13. The two middles racked up four blocks apiece. Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Lord tabbed her 13^th double-double of the season with 12 kills and 10 digs. Fisher led the back row with 25 digs, and accounted for two of the team's five aces. Junior setter Brianna Frakes dealt 46 assists.

 
After they extended the match with a 25-23 win in the third, Robert Morris (12-15, 6-5 NEC) continued to challenge Sacred Heart (17-7, 10-1) early in the fourth set. The Colonials opened the frame on a 4-1 run, capped by a Dunivan kill and ace from Krivoniak. The Pioneers claimed the next three points, however, and tied the score, 4-4.
 
The teams traded points back and forth early on, until Sacred Heart ripped off an eight-point scoring streak that put them ahead, 16-8. Robert Morris responded with a 5-1 run that cut the Pioneers' lead to three, and forced Sacred Heart to call timeout. Out of the break, the Pioneers got hot and scored the next four points to increase their lead to seven, 22-15. RMU put together one last rally for four straight points, but Sacred Heart won the race to 25, and claimed the match by a 3-1 margin.
 
Schmid opened the third set with a kill and capped a 5-0 Colonials run the same way. The teams battled back and forth and traded leads all the way to 23-23. Fisher pressured the Pioneers with a service ace to earn set point, and Schmid finished off the frame with a kill to secure set three, 25-23.
 
Sacred Heart stole sets one and two by three points or less, as the two squads challenged one another for a full four frames. Both the Colonials and the Pioneers recorded 19 kills in the first game, and Sacred Heart just narrowly edged Robert Morris in kills through the second, 11-10. RMU topped SHU in aces, 5-3, and digs, 79-77.
 
The Colonials kick off a three-match road trip to conclude the regular season, beginning with a Friday evening matchup with in-state NEC foe Saint Francis U on Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
 
 
Record Watch
With her two aces in today's match, senior Arden Fisher is now tied for fourth place in individual career service aces (88) at Robert Morris. Junior Brianna Frakes moved to third place in individual career assists (2,078). Senior Leah Dunivan improved to fifth all-time in individual career total blocks (285).
 
Success Under Starr
With yesterday's win over Fairleigh Dickinson, head coach Dale Starr earned his 200^th career win overall at the Division I level. RMU's win over St. Francis Brooklyn on Oct. 8 marked Starr's 100th victory as head coach of the Robert Morris volleyball program.
 
A Historic Run
Robert Morris qualified for its 17th consecutive NEC Tournament last year, extending the conference's longest active streak. In the last 17 seasons, the Colonials have posted a winning record in league play; the longest such streak of any NEC member, past or present. Over that time span, RMU has gone 157-41 in conference play.
 
 
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