Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University volleyball team is coming up on the final stretch of the regular season, and hits the road this weekend to take on in-state Northeast Conference (NEC) foe Saint Francis U on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. in DeGol Arena.
 
The Colonials (12-15, 6-5) face a must-win situation entering their final three matches for a chance to secure a spot in the 2016 Northeast Conference Tournament.
 
In their final two regular-season appearances in the Sewall Center for the 2016 slate, RMU swept FDU, 3-0, then dropped a four-set battle with Sacred Heart, 3-1.
 

SAINT FRANCIS U RUNDOWN
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4		Match Time	Live Stream	Live Stats
ROBERT MORRIS | SAINT FRANCIS U		6:00 p.m.	NEC Front Row	Sidearm

 
 
Robert Morris versus Saint Francis U
SAINT FRANCIS U | 5-19, 1-10 (NEC)
Robert Morris is 57-9 all-time against Saint Francis U, and swept the Red Flash in the first meeting between the two teams this season.
 
 
Early Predictions
The Colonials collected six first-place votes to earn the top spot in the NEC Preseason Coaches' Poll. RMU qualified for its 17th consecutive NEC Tournament last season, extending the conference's longest active streak. In each of those 17 seasons, the Colonials have posted a winning record in league competition, which stands as the longest such streak of any NEC member, past or present.
 
Success Under Starr
The Colonials posted their best overall winning percentage (.594) under head coach Dale Starr last season. Starr claimed his 100^th victory as head coach of the Robert Morris volleyball program with a win against St. Francis Brooklyn on Oct. 8, and his 200^th career win overall at the Division I level on Oct. 29 versus FDU.
 
National Radar
Senior Arden Fisher currently ranks No. 10 in the nation in digs per set (5.30) after spending the first two weeks at number one, and sixth in total digs (525). She is the only top-25 national digs leader that plays at the outside hitter position. As a team, Robert Morris ranks ninth in the nation in digs per set (17.45) and leads the NEC in the same category.
 
Trending
Senior Molten/NEC Defensive Player of the Week Arden Fisher has posted a double-double in 18 of 25 matches played this season, and has recorded double-digit digs in all but two matches on the year. 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 (305) and digs (525).
 
Top Performance
Sophomore middle Brianna Schmid recorded a career-high 14 kills against the Pioneers last weekend, and added four blocks.
 
We Can Dig It
Arden Fisher, Taylor Lord, and Allie Yurkovich all rank among the top 10 in the NEC in digs per set, with Fisher leading the conference.
 
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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