Hackensack, N.J. – Facing match point at 14-13, the RMU volleyball team battled back by scoring three consecutive points to earn a five-set triumph (25-18, 25-16, 22-25, 21-25, 16-14) over Maryland Eastern Shore this afternoon at the FDU Tournament. RMU moves to 1-0 with the victory, while UMES drops to 0-1.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Down 14-13 in the deciding frame, UMES seemed to have found the winner on a Derionah Abner kill but RMU head coach Dale Starr immediately flashed the challenge card after the ball found the floor. Replay confirmed Starr's suspicions, giving the Colonials the point and another lifeline. Emma Brown then connected on a swing to make it 15-14, and after a Hawks timeout, Emma Granger recorded her fifth service ace of the match to give RMU an exciting five-set victory.
ABBY ABBY, DOUBLE DOUBLE
Sophomore outside hitter Abby Ryan was stellar in her fall debut, posting the first double-double of her career with 20 kills and 12 digs. Ryan added three service aces in the marathon, leading all players on the evening with 23.0 points. Her namesake, freshman right side Abby Powers, joined the sophomore in double-digit kills by netting 10 on a .316 hitting percentage.
BATTLE BACK
RMU started the match slowly, giving UMES five of the first six points to fall in a 5-1 hole. The deficit sat at 8-4 before the Colonials' first rally, a three-point stretch with points by Powers and Emma Granger to make it 8-7. RMU grabbed its first lead at 11-10 following an Alexis Lee attack error, then scored six of the next seven points to push the gap to 17-11 with Alyssa Hudak netting two kills and a block assist over the stretch. The Colonials tacked on seven of the next 11 points to force set point, and after a three-point UMES rally, Emily Devlin and Emma Brown combined for a block to give RMU an early lead for the match.
ENTER WONDER WOMAN
Fifth-year middle blocker Emma Granger provided the heroics in the deciding set, but her first four frames were nothing to sneeze at either. The Dalton, Ohio product connected at a .636 clip with eight kills, adding five service aces and three block assists for a total of 14.5 points. Granger entered her final hurrah already owning the program's career service ace record, and today's quintet put her nine shy of reaching the 200 milestone.
NEW TO RMU
Along with the aforementioned Powers, four other freshmen made their RMU debuts this afternoon in right side Ally Christman, middle blocker Page Gross, defensive specialist Jaidan Hockman, and setter Ashleigh Wallin. Wallin shared the setting duties with senior Megan Cannon, leading the Colonials with 30 helpers to go along with six digs and two aces. Gross collected two block assists and a kill in three sets, Christman tallied six digs and an assisted rejection in four frames, and Hockman scooped three digs in four sets.
NOTABLES
Senior outside hitter Alyssa Hudak was the third Colonial with double-figures in kills, tallying 10 to pair with three block assists. Cannon dished out 14 assists while splitting time with Wallin, while senior libero Nikolette Zanolli provided a team-high 13 digs and three service aces. UMES was led by the duo of Alexis Lee and Mauri Carver, who combined for 26 points, seven blocks (one solo), and 31.0 points.
NEXT UP
RMU concludes its first tournament of the season with two matches tomorrow. The Colonials open up at 10:00 a.m. against Manhattan, then face tournament host Fairleigh Dickinson at 5:30 p.m. in the weekend finale.
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