CHARLESTON, SC. – RMU Volleyball fell in both matches this afternoon against Charleston and Utah Tech, The Colonials are now 3-6 in the early portion of the season.

Match 1: RMU vs. Charleston

• The Colonials came out swinging in the opening set as they tallied a match-high 13 kills in the first set to go along with a .289 kill percentage. RMU trailed by just two points, 14-12 midway through the set when the Cougars erupted and scored 11 out of the next 14 points to secure the set win.
• RMU struggled offensively in the second set with only seven kills but managed to have a match-high four blocks in the stanza. Azra Eric contributed with three of those blocks with Keira Hornung adding another block.
• The Colonials jumped out to an 8-6 lead to begin the third set thanks to five kills and two Charleston errors. Immediately after RMU took the lead, the Cougars went on a 10-0 run and didn't look back as they took the set, 25-14.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Graduate student Jaaliyah Evans and Natalie Stepanovich led the Colonials with eight kills while Stepanovich added 13 digs as well. Kaitlyn Brown had a team-high 15 digs while adding six assists and Azra Eric finished the contest with three blocks to lead RMU.

Match 2: RMU vs. Utah Tech

• The Colonials got started in the second match with high energy as they jumped out to a 4-1 lead courtesy of two Tatum Otolski kills and errors from the Trailblazers. Unfortunately for RMU, Utah Tech wouldn't let the Colonials have the lead again as they had 16 kills and a .327 kill percentage to help take the first set, 25-21.
• RMU's offense improved in the second stanza as they had a .325 kill percentage to go along with 13 kills. Jaaliyah Evans would tie the set at 16 with two straight kills but the Trailblazers fought back and scored 10 out of the next 14 points to close the set.
• The Colonials got off to a slow start to begin the third set as they trailed Utah Tech 19-9 at the midway point. However, RMU would fight back and go on a 6-1 run courtesy of two kills and three errors from the Trailblazers. Utah Tech's offense proved to be too much for RMU late in the set as they had six kills out of their final seven points to sweep the match.

 INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Jocelyn Jourdan had her best match of the weekend as she tallied a team-high 12 kills to go along with two blocks. Kaitlyn Brown had an all-around good match from the setter position as she had 13 assists, six digs, three kills, and an ace.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonials will return home next weekend when they battle Canisius and Central Michigan as part of the Four Twelve Project Volleyball Invitational. The first match will take place next Friday at 6 p.m. against Canisius at the UPMC Events Center.