North Andover, Mass. – The Robert Morris University volleyball team continued its streak of sweeps, extending it to four consecutive three-set wins this evening against Merrimack in Northeast Conference (NEC) action from Hammel Court.
Robert Morris (17-3, 7-0 NEC) has now taken 21 of 22 sets to begin NEC play, and held Merrimack (1-13, 0-7 NEC) to a negative hitting percentage again at -.023. This is the first time since 2004 that the Colonials have forced three opponents to commit more errors than kills in a match.
The Warriors were given a steady dose of Emma Granger and Alyssa Hudak, as the duo combined for 24 of RMU's 34 kills. Granger garnered a game-high 14 on a .370 hitting percentage, adding three service aces and three blocks (one solo). Hudak hit at a .375 clip with 10 kills, and picked up her first two service aces of the season.
Tied at 7-7 in the first set, RMU used a six-point rally to take control. The hosts pulled within four after a Hudak error, but Maria Alfano, Emily Devlin, and a block by the former and Erika Wilt pushed the gap to 18-11. The Colonials closed the frame out with a 7-3 surge, with back-to-back aces by Allena Carmody finishing it off.
Merrimack went swing for swing with RMU through most of the middle stanza, trailing by a single point at 19-18. Granger came up with a pair of kills to push the momentum back in the visitors' favor, then the junior teamed up with Wilt to stop a Taylor Sawyer attack. Two more Granger points and a Hudak kill put an end to the set at 25-19.
The final frame was all Colonials. RMU built a 10-1 lead after the Warriors grabbed the first point, then flexed its muscles with a 9-0 run at 15-7. Alfano, who had two kills in that latter rally, put the cherry on top of the match with her sixth kill.
Megan Cannon started at setter and quarterbacked the Colonial attack with 30 assists. Nikolette Zanolli recorded a team-best 15 digs and was one of four RMU players (Granger, Carmody, Hudak) with multiple service aces, tallying two.
Granger is now six service aces shy of breaking the program career record, as her 156 sits in third place all-time behind Darcey Miller (158, 2001-04) and Kristie Tuxford (161, 1992-95).
The Colonials' 7-0 start in NEC play is their best in 11 seasons. Only the league-unbeaten 1993 (7-0), 1999 (9-0), 2002 (9-0), 2003 (8-0), 2004 (8-0), and 2008 (8-0) sides have matched or surpassed that.
Robert Morris continues its three-match week and four-game road trip tomorrow at 7:00 p.m. when it faces Central Connecticut.
Follow the Colonials: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
