Charleston, S.C. – On the first day of the 2016 season, the Robert Morris University volleyball team split a pair of matches at The Bulldog Battle, hosted by The Citadel, Friday evening. The Colonials dropped their season opener to Gardner-Webb, 3-1, but bounced back to top the Bulldogs of the Citadel, 3-2, after falling behind, two sets to none.

Immediately following a season-opening setback to Gardner-Webb (1-1) Robert Morris (1-1) returned to the floor and pulled off a gutsy 3-2 victory over The Citadel (1-1).

Senior Arden Fisher paced the Colonials with 16 kills, 33 digs, one solo block and one block assist. Sophomore Taylor Lord notched 15 kills, 13 digs and two service aces. Senior Leah Dunivan joined Fisher and Lord in double-digit kills with 13 at a .435 hitting percentage. Freshman Kendra Harlow recorded eight kills, five digs, and a team-leading five block assists in her RMU debut.

RMU eased to a 25-16 victory over The Citadel in the fourth set to force a game five. The Colonials put together a 9-2 run and earned an 11-6 advantage. The Citadel scored the next four after calling timeout, but Robert Morris captured four of the last six points in the match, including two timely kills from Fisher, to help close out the Bulldogs in the final frame.

The Citadel managed to narrowly edge Robert Morris by margins of three and two points, respectively, in sets one and two, but the Colonials found their groove and controlled the following three frames.  RMU opened the third game on a 7-2 tear, bookended by two kills from Dunivan with an ace from senior April Krivoniak to provide an added spark. The Colonials led by as many as eight before securing set three and keeping the action alive.

In the Colonials' first match of the day, Robert Morris and Gardner-Webb entered the third set tied at one apiece, with the momentum in favor of the Colonials heading into game three. The Bulldogs, however, charged to a 14-9 lead in the third frame, but RMU responded with a 5-2 run to close the gap to 16-14. With the score tied at 23-23, Gardner-Webb pushed for three of the next four points and secured a crucial 2-1 lead heading into set four.

The Colonials opened set four with a kill from Dunivan and cashed in on consecutive attack errors on the other side of the net to take an early 3-0 lead, but the Bulldogs went on a 7-0 spurt to control the final frame and close out the match.

Fisher wasted no time recording her first double-double of the season in the opening match of 2016. She led the Colonials with 18 kills and 33 digs. Lord followed suit with 12 kills and 24 digs, while Dunivan matched her career-high of 14 kills at a .256 clip. Frakes dished out 47 assists and added 14 digs.

Robert Morris concludes action at the Bulldog Battle on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 11 a.m. in McAlister Field House against Morehead State.

 
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