MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU volleyball makes their last extended non-conference road trip when they travel to South Carolina and play in the Charleston Invitational. The Colonials are set to face Utah Tech, Middle Tennessee State, and the host school, College of Charleston.

RMU LATELY
RMU is coming off of a 1-2 weekend where they defeated Coppin State but fell to Niagara and Duquesne to close out the Chick-Fil-A Robinson Classic. In RMU's victory over Coppin State, Natalie Stepanovich was a key player as she tallied a team-high 16 kills and 14 digs to help get the win in five sets. Jaaliyah Evans led the Colonials with 30 kills in the weekend tournament while Jaidan Hockman led RMU with 51 digs.
 
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
Utah Tech is coming off an impressive weekend at the Gonzaga Tournament where the Trailblazers swept Cal State Fullerton then defeated Gonzaga in five sets. The Trailblazers are 4-1 which matches their best start since 2018. Utah Tech ranks second in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in blocks per set (2.45) and hitting percentage (.233).

Middle Tennessee State comes into South Carolina with a 2-4 record representing Conference USA. Adri Rhoda, who made it on the preseason CUSA All-Conference Team currently leads the Blue Raiders with 77 kills in 23 sets played. The Colonials have only faced MTSU three times and have lost each contest with the last meeting taking place in 2018.

Charleston heads into the invitational with a 3-4 record as the Cougars have picked up wins against Yale, USC Upstate, and Western Carolina. Graduate student Emily Banitt leads Charleston with 76 kills this season as her single-game high came against Western Carolina when she had 19 kills. This is only the second meeting between the Cougars and Colonials with the first match taking place in 2008.
 
CONFERENCE LEADERS
The Colonials lead the Horizon League in several categories both collectively and individually. First, the Colonials as a team lead the conference in blocks (65.5) and service aces (49). RMU averages 2.62 blocks per set and 1.96 aces per set. Individually, sophomore middle blocker Azra Eric leads the Horizon League in blocks with 40 as she has averaged 1.60 blocks in 25 sets played.

UP NEXT
RMU will return home next weekend to face Central Michigan and Canisius as part of the Four Twelve Project Volleyball Invitational. The first match is scheduled for next Friday at 6 p.m. against Canisius at the UPMC Events Center.

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