Youngstown, Ohio – The Robert Morris University volleyball team picked up its first Horizon League victory as a program in dominant fashion, bouncing back from a five-set defeat the night before to sweep Youngstown State in three frames (25-21, 25-10, 25-20) this evening from the Beeghly Center. RMU moves to 1-11 (1-11 HL) on the season, while YSU falls to 3-7 (3-7 HL).
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Tied in the third stanza at 13-13, RMU used a five-point run to take control of the set and position itself for its maiden Horizon League win. Alyson Londot and Maria Alfano both buried a pair of kills over the stretch, and a Nadia Pace error forced a YSU timeout at 18-13. Back-to-back blocks by Alfano caused a second Penguins regrouping at 20-14, and two Abby Ryan swings made it 22-15. The hosts put together one more rally with a 4-0 run to pull within three, but following a timeout, RMU used two Ryan kills and a successful swing by Emma Granger to capture the set, 25-20, and claim its first victory of the season.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU
Senior setter Whitney Brown posted her second double-double in as many nights, finishing with 33 assists and 10 digs, and also added a season-high three block assists. Brown is averaging 9.42 assists and 2.89 digs per set this season, and now has five double-doubles in 2021 and 25 over her career. She sits 148 helpers away from moving into fifth place in the RMU career assist leaderboard, and would need to average 37 assists over the Colonials' final four regular-season matches to reach Kelly Wayne (2,385; 1995-98).
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Coming off a five-set defeat the night before, the Colonials knew that they needed a better start to bounce back. That didn't happen initially, as the Penguins grabbed a 9-4 lead and forced a RMU timeout. The Colonials trimmed the gap to two over the middle portion of the frame, then scored three straight points to go ahead, 19-18. After a Ryan error forced a deadlock, Hudak found the floor and Alfano and Londot teamed up for a block to make it 21-19. YSU burned both of its timeouts and followed the breaks with errors, and the teams traded points until Londot finished the frame with a kill at 25-21.
MY MARIA
Senior middle blocker Maria Alfano led the Colonials with 12.0 points on nine kills and six block assists. Alfano hit at a .750 clip over 12 swings, and avoided committing an attack error. The six assisted rejections moved her ahead of Amanda Craig (255; 2009-12) for sixth place at RMU in that category, and also brought her seven blocks away from reaching the 300 total block milestone, which would bring her even with Leah Dunivan (300; 2013-16) for eighth place in the program record book.
SECOND SET SUCCESS
RMU had little trouble in the second frame, riding the wave of momentum to a 25-10 triumph. The Colonials scored the first four points off of Hudak and Londot kills, plus an assisted rejection by Granger and the former. At 14-8, the visitors rattled off seven consecutive points to take a commanding lead. Londot scored three points over the rally, and Hudak served one of her two aces. RMU ultimately hit .448 in the set, and finished it off with kills by Alfano and Ryan to take a 2-0 lead for the match.
LEAD THE CHARGE
Fourth-year outside hitter Alyson Londot paced the Colonials offensively with 10 kills, reaching double figures in that category for the third time this season. Londot converted at a .241 rate, adding a pair of block assists and two digs defensively. After suffering a season-ending knee injury in the 2019 opener, the Utica, Ohio product has come back to rank third on the team in total kills (86) and fourth in kills per set (2.10), total points (92.0), and points per set (2.24).
ONCE A DECADE
While RMU would prefer this trend would come to an end next season, its win tonight at Youngstown State continued the oddity in which the Colonials have only defeated the Penguins on the road in years that end in one. RMU is now 8-32 all-time against their I-76 rivals, with its three road victories in the series coming in 2001, 2011, and now 2021.
HIGH HONORS
Junior outside hitter Alyssa Hudak recorded team highs in service aces and digs, tallying two and 12, respectively. For the Penguins, Josi Borum registered a 10-kill, 14-assist double-double, Libbie Darling dished out a team-high 17 assists, and Margaux Thompson netted a match-best 14 digs.
NEXT UP
RMU looks to start a winning streak back in Moon Township next week on March 15-16 against IUPUI. Monday's match features a 6:00 p.m. start, while Tuesday will have a 5:00 p.m. opening serve. March 16 will serve as the team's Senior Night, as the Colonials will recognize Maria Alfano, Whitney Brown, Skylar Clements, Mirna Sarjanovic, and Erika Wilt following the match's conclusion.
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