MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU volleyball team is set to begin their 2024 campaign on the road with a four-team tournament at UNC Greensboro. Along with UNC Greensboro, the Colonials will face off against USC Upstate and Missouri State as part of the Spartan Classic taking place on Friday and Saturday.
KEY RETURNERS TO WATCH
The Colonials will be guided by key returning players from last season. Sophomore
Natalie Stepanovich returns after a stellar freshman year where she led the Colonials in kills and points and made the Horizon-League All Freshman Team as well as the All-Conference Second Team.
Hillarie Adams returns for her junior season as she finished 2023 second on the team with 237 kills.
Ashleigh Wallin is set for her senior year as she led the Colonials with 578 assists along with a team-leading 41 service aces in 2023. Lastly,
Azra Eric returns for her sophomore campaign as she was second on the team with 58 blocks last year along with providing 85 kills and 15 aces in her rookie year.
NEW TO THE PROGRAM
The Colonials have added six new players onto the 2024 roster, which includes three transfers and three freshmen. Transfer outside hitter
Jocelyn Jourdan joins the Colonials after spending her freshman season at Youngstown State where she played in 23 matches and made seven starts while accumulating 95 kills over 70 sets played.
Jaaliyah Evans is new to Bobby Mo as she spent her first three seasons at Temple and had 156 kills over 112 sets played with 16 starts.
Jasmine Purakal joins RMU after playing her first two years at Towson as she accumulated 17 digs in 19 matches from the defensive specialist position.
RMU brought on three freshmen who play three different positions as
Lanie Goff joins the Colonials as a defensive specialist from Bristow, Va. Goff was a two-time all-district performer and named first-team all-region during her high school years.
Keira Hornung comes to Moon Township after attending Haverford high school in Havertown, Pa. Hornung was a four-year letter winner and defensive MVP for the Fords as a middle blocker.
Natalie Frost is the last incoming freshman who was a four-time first-team all-league recipient in high school along with being a team captain during her junior and senior year. Frost was also a four-sport athlete during her time at Fulton.
ALL-TIME VS. SPARTAN CLASSIC OPPONENTS
This will only be the second matchup all time between UNC Greensboro and RMU with the first contest taking place in 2006 when the Colonials upended the Spartans, 3-0. RMU will play Missouri State and USC Upstate for the first time this in program history.
UP NEXT
The Colonials open the home slate at UPMC Events Center on Sept. 6 for the Chick Fil-A Robinson Classic. RMU will play Coppin State in the home opener at 11:00 a.m. followed by Niagara at 6:00 p.m. RMU will then travel to Duquesne the following day to close out the tournament at 3:00 p.m.
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