MATCHES 1-2-3

RMU (0-0) vs. Loyola (Md.) (0-0)
Saturday, August 26 • 3:00 p.m.
Bob Carpenter Center • Newark, Del.
 
RMU (0-0) vs. Niagara (0-0)
Sunday, August 27 • 11:00 a.m.
Bob Carpenter Center • Newark, Del.
 
RMU (0-0) vs. Delaware (0-0)
Sunday, August 27 • 2:30 p.m.
Bob Carpenter Center • Newark, Del.
 
Can You Dig It?

• The RMU volleyball team opens its 2023 campaign with three matches at the Blue Hen Invitational in Newark, Del., at the Bob Carpenter Center. The Colonials open with a 3:00 p.m. match against Loyola (Md.) Saturday, August 26, before concluding play in the invite with two matches Sunday, opening with Niagara at 11:00 a.m. before taking on the host Blue Hens at 2:30 p.m.
• The Colonials return 11 letterwinners from 2022, including senior middle blocker/right side Emma Brown and senior outside hitter Abby Ryan, who each appeared in all 30 matches a season ago. Both earned a spot on the Horizon League All-Academic team in 2022 while Brown earned CoSIDA Academic All-District Team honors as well.
• Ryan ranked fifth in the conference in kills (332) and kills per set (3.29) while pacing the team in both categories. She finished in the top 10 in the Horizon league in points per set (3.54) and total points (354) a season ago. Ryan carded 17 matches with double-digit kills and 11 games with 15+ kills while posting six matches with kill/digs double-doubles.
• The Colonials will be bolstered by the return of graduate student libero/defensive specialist Allena Carmody. She became just the 14th student-athlete in program history to eclipse 1,000 career digs while sitting fifth in the Horizon League with 447 total digs in 2022. Carmody posted double-digit digs in 26 matches last season while holding a streak of 17-straight games with 10+ digs.
• One of the best setters in the Horizon League, Kaitlyn Brown returns after finishing fifth in the conference in assists (624) and assists per set (5.62). She totaled 241 digs which ranked second on the team while reaching double-digit assists in 27 matches last season. Brown held a streak of 18 straight matches with double-digit assists in 2022.
• RMU returns home after taking part in the Blue Hen Invitational for the Chick-fil-A Robinson Labor Day Classic. The Colonials will host Canisius (11 a.m.) and Duquesne (6:00 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 2, at the UPMC Events Center.

BLUE HEN INVITATIONAL LINKS
Live Stats vs Loyola (Md.) (8/26/23)
Live Stats vs Niagara (8/27/23)
Live Stats @ Delaware (8/27/23)
Video @ Delaware (8/27/23)
 
The All-Time Series (Loyola Md.) – The Colonials own a perfect 5-0 record in the all-time series against the Greyhounds. The last meeting was in 2018 at the Charm City Challenge in Baltimore, Md., where RMU secured a 3-2 come from behind victory. The Colonials have swept Loyola twice and have gone to four sets with the Greyhounds throughout the all-time series.

The All-Time Series (Niagara) – It'll be the fourth all-time meeting between the Colonials and Purple Eagles comes Sunday afternoon. Niagara holds a 2-1 mark over RMU but the Colonials secured a victory in the last meeting. RMU captured a 3-0 sweep in 2015 at the Rose Hill Classic in Bronx, N.Y., as they collected 10 blocks during the victory.

The All-Time Series (Delaware) – Sunday's match against the host Blue Hens marks the fourth in the all-time series, with Delaware holding a 3-0 record over RMU. The two squads haven't met since 1993 where the Blue Hens posted a 3-0 win over the Colonials.

The Debut – The Colonials will feature five newcomers who will take the court in the blue and white for the first time this season. Graduate student Rosina Esposito joins RMU after playing four seasons at Susquehanna University. She appeared in 341 sets in her career while collecting over 1200 kills, 870 digs, 154.0 blocks, and 126 service aces. The Colonials welcomed four new freshmen to its 2023 roster, including one international student-athlete. This freshman class hails from three different states as well as the country of Türkiye. Outside hitter Natalie Stepanovich joins the Colonials from Canton, Ohio as middle blocker Lindsey Scammell comes to Moon Township from Stuart, Florida. Setter Katie Cook joins RMU from Denver, North Carolina and middle blocker Azra Eric is from Kocaeli, Türkiye.

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