PITTSBURGH – Freshman middle blocker Emma Granger totaled 21 kills and hit at a .487 clip in leading the Robert Morris University volleyball team to a split on day one of the Duquesne Invitational. The Colonials dropped a 3-0 (13-25, 20-25, 18-25) decision to Northern Kentucky before sweeping Canisius 3-0 (25-21, 25-18, 25-23) in the nightcap at the A.J. Palumbo Center.

With the split, Robert Morris moves to 2-5 on the season.

Granger totaled 15 kills against Canisius while adding three digs and three total blocks. She hit .609 on 23 attempts against the Griffins. Granger totaled six kills, two digs and two service aces against Northern Kentucky. Freshmen Alyson Londot and Maria Alfano each led the team with eight kills against the Norse. Senior Brianna Frakes and freshman Whitney Brown each totaled nine digs against NKU. The pair also combined for 27 assists.

Londot recorded 15 kills against Canisius while adding five digs. She also hit .450. Freshman outside hitter Mirna Sarjanovic added seven kills and five digs. Frakes added a season-high 37 assists in the win over the Griffins.

The Norse jumped out to a 9-3 lead in the first set before the Colonials called timeout. Robert Morris pulled to within 9-6 immediately after the timeout before Northern Kentucky used a 16-7 run to win the set. The teams traded points for much of the beginning of the second set before the Norse went ahead 19-13. RMU then pulled to within 20-18 on an attack error. NKU answered with a 5-2 run to win the set. The third set saw the Norse take an early 5-4 lead. NKU then stretched the lead to 18-10 kill from Laura Crawford before winning the match with a 25-18 victory.

The Colonials and Griffins traded the match's first 14 points before Robert Morris took a 15-10 lead on Holly Brennan kill. RMU took a 20-15 lead on a Canisius attack error before Alfano won the set with a kill. Robert Morris took a 9-8 second set lead before extending the lead to 17-11 on an attack error. Canisius pulled to within 19-14 but the Colonials earned the set win on a service error. The third set saw RMU take an 8-4 lead before the Griffins took a 13-11 lead. After a Colonial timeout, RMU retook the lead at 16-15 on Londot's service ace. Canisius tied the set at 22-22 before Robert Morris scored three of the final four points to win the set and the match.

The Colonials complete play at the Duquesne Invitational tomorrow with matches against Coppin State (1 p.m.) and host Duquesne (6 p.m.).

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