MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU volleyball team finished the weekend in impressive fashion by defeating Central Michigan, 3-1 to close out the non-conference slate.

With the win, the Colonials picked up their fifth victory of the season while the Chippewas dropped their third match so far this year.

KEY SET MOMENTS

• The Colonials picked up where they left off last night as they jumped out to a 6-1 lead to begin the match against Central Michigan. Jaaliyah Evans was a force in the first stanza as she had six kills along with a .667 hit percentage. The Chippewas didn't do themselves any favors as they had seven attack errors compared to RMU who had just two in the first set.
• Central Michigan retaliated in the second set as they had a match-high .375 hit percentage to go along with 18 kills in the frame. The Chippewas went on two separate 5-0 runs in the stanza and only allowed 12 Colonial kills.
• Both teams battled it out in the third set as there was a match-high 12 tie scores in the stanza along with eight lead changes. Jocelyn Jourdan continued to have one of her best days as a Colonial as she had five kills on eight attacks in the third. The difference maker in the set was the Chippewas having seven attack errors compared to RMU who only had three. The score was 22-21 in favor of RMU when the Colonials scored three out of the next four points thanks in part to two Jourdan kills and a Natalie Stepanovich ace to close the set.
• The Colonials proved to have their most dominant set in the fourth as they tallied a .500 hit percentage off of 14 kills and 28 attacks. RMU jumped out to an 18-13 lead and continued to apply pressure going on a 7-3 run to close the match. Hillarie Adams was a game-breaker with five kills on six attacks, most of which coming in the final points of the set.

WIN AGAINST THE MAC
This was the first win for RMU over Central Michigan in the four matchups in series history. The Colonials have now picked up their eight win against a MAC opponent with their last victory coming against Kent State in 2019.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Jourdan led all players with 16 kills to go along with a season-high .452 hit percentage. Jaaliyah Evans had a strong outing as well tallying 14 kills and two digs for RMU. Kaitlyn Brown had an all-around solid performance with 14 assists, 11 digs, and a team-high three aces.

FOUR TWELVE PROJECT VOLLEYBALL INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
RMU - Jaaliyah Evans
RMU - Hillarie Adams
CMU - Abby Olin
CMU - Hannah Langton
DUQ - Elizabeth Drelling
CAN - Kara Zaucha

UP NEXT
The Colonials will prepare for Horizon League play next weekend when Purdue Fort Wayne comes to the UPMC Events Center for a two-match series beginning on Friday, September 27 at 6 p.m. The match will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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