MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU volleyball team finished the weekend strong as they defeated Northern Kentucky in straight sets.
 
With the win, the Colonials jump to 8-12, 3-6 HL while the Norse drop to 9-11, 5-4 HL.
 
KEY SET MOMENTS

• The Colonials weren't going to let the outcome of last night get to them as RMU battled all throughout the first set and played team first volleyball. RMU saw themselves down 23-20 when a 45 second rally occurred in which the Colonials played outstanding defense led by Jocelyn Jourdan who made two diving digs to help RMU get a point out of the rally. Following that sequence, RMU would go on a 7-2 run to win the set.
• RMU's offense took over in the second stanza as the home squad had a match-high .394 hit percentage. The Colonials saw themselves down 15-14 when RMU went on a 8-1 run and had four kills to put the Norse on their heels. Northern Kentucky also had seven attack errors compared to RMU who had just one.
• The Colonials kept their foot on the gas in the third set as there was only one instance where RMU didn't have the lead. RMU was down 10-9 when the offense erupted as the Colonials went on a 10-4 run that took the energy out of the Norse. RMU closed out the match with a Natalie Stepanovich kill to cap off an impressive team performance.

 
CHASING 2K
Ashleigh Wallin finished today's match with 1,993 career assists by recording 18 of those tonight. Wallin is seven assists away from the 2,000-assist milestone in which she would become just the ninth RMU player to reach that feat. The senior setter will look to eclipse that number in the team's next match against Cleveland State next Thursday at the UPMC Events Center.

QUOTABLES
RMU Head Coach Danny Doherty spoke after the match about what he saw from his team tonight. Doherty stated, "I mean, we've talked all year about being resilient, but the expectation of setting the standard, I think, really showed up today. Playing these back to backs is very difficult for either team, and I think our conference is learning that." Doherty then spoke about Jasmine Purakal who stepped up in the starting role today, "Jasmine had a phenomenal day. She's been ready and waiting like she's been Batman, like unassuming grinder, just waiting for her opportunity and she took it today and ran with it. I can't even state more how impressed I am with her and how she was. She's created a lot of what happened today with turning the tide, and I absolutely love that she stepped up and did this." Doherty finished his statement by looking forward to Cleveland State and what the team can do to keep the momentum. Doherty stated, "We just got to get in and understand who our opponent is, what we have to do in order to be successful against that opponent, and then just kind of takeoff from there. Cleveland State is always kind of a chess match, and I'm assuming that we'll see one if not two of those happen but I'm really excited to see where we'll be able to go on this week of practice, but we'll get back in the gym and hone in on some of the things that'll be successful for us.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
The Colonials were guided on offense by Hillarie Adams and Natalie Stepanovich who both had 12 kills. Ally Christman and Ashleigh Wallin had a team-high three aces with Wallin also having a team-leading 18 assists. Jasmine Purakal led the Colonials with 20 digs in the three set match.
 
UP NEXT
RMU will stay at home for their next contest as Cleveland State will come to visit next Thursday and Friday in Horizon League action. The first match is scheduled for Thursday, October 24 at 6 p.m. and can be seen live on ESPN+.
 
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