Hackensack, N.J. – The RMU volleyball team finished its opening non-conference tournament undefeated, topping Manhattan and Fairleigh Dickinson in three sets each this afternoon in the FDU Tournament. RMU defeated the Jaspers by set scores of 25-22, 26-24, and 25-17, and knocked off the Knights by identical 25-18 tallies.
MANHATTAN MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Deadlocked at 18-18 in the second set, RMU used an Abby Ryan kill, bad set by Abby Wilde, and a combo block by the Emmas Brown and Granger to go ahead 21-18. After Manhattan scored two of the next three points, another Ryan swing and attack error by the Jaspers forced set point at 24-20. However, that was followed with a four-point run by Manhattan to knot it at 24-all, swinging the momentum back in favor of the Jaspers. The Colonials buckled down and bounced back though, receiving back-to-back kills from fifth-years Granger and Alyson Londot to take a controlling 2-0 lead for the match.
MANHATTAN NOTABLES
Three RMU players reached double-figure points in Abby Ryan, Alyson Londot, and Emma Granger. Ryan led the way once again with 14 points, achieving that number with 11 kills, two service aces, and two block assists, while adding nine digs. Londot provided 10.5 points, as she hit .320 with 10 kills and an assisted rejection. Granger collected seven kills, four block assists, and an ace to reach 10 points. Megan Cannon and Ashleigh Wallin combined for 33 assists, dishing out 18 and 15, respectively.
FDU MOMENT THAT MATTERED
Each of the three 25-18 victories were different in their own right, but it was the second set that again set the tone for the match. Up 17-13, the Colonials saw the Knights storm back with two kills and a pair of service aces to tie it at 17-17. RMU responded with Brown, who netted two kills and a pair of block assists for a four-point run of her own. After a service error briefly shifted the momentum towards FDU, two attack errors, a Londot kill, and Annie Monaco service ace finished the set and gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.
FDU NOTABLES
It was a balanced effort offensively versus the Knights, with five players tallying five or more points. Brown provided a team-high six kills on 12 swings, adding three block assists for 7.5 points. Wallin and Cannon combined for 25 helpers, with the freshman's 14 topping the duo. Ryan and Nikolette Zanolli recorded eight digs each to share the team lead.
NEXT UP
RMU is back in Moon Township for its annual home tournament, the RMU / Chick-Fil-A Robinson Labor Day Classic. The Colonials open with two matches on Friday, Sept. 3, first playing Liberty at 10:00 a.m. before a 7:00 p.m. nightcap against Idaho. RMU finishes off the two-day stretch with local rival Duquesne, squaring off with the Dukes at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.
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