MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU volleyball closed the opening conference weekend with a loss in four sets to Purdue Fort Wayne.

With the loss, the Colonials fall to 6-7, 1-1 while the Mastodons improve to 8-7, 1-1 this season.

KEY SET MOMENTS

• Purdue Fort Wayne was looking for vengeance to start the second match of the season series as they had a match-high 18 kills along with a .341 hit percentage in the first set. The Colonials hung around in the beginning of the set as they were down 11-9 before the Mastodons erupted for a 7-0 run that included five kills to jump start them to a set win.
• RMU came back in the second set as they started out with a 7-3 lead courtesy of three kills from Jocelyn Jourdan. The Mastodons weren't able to find their groove offensively as they had nine attack errors that they weren't able to come back from. Jaaliyah Evans closed out the set scoring three out of the last four points for RMU.
• The Colonials were involved in a back and forth battle in the third stanza as there was four lead changes along with the score being tied on nine different occasions. RMU didn't have a great offensive output but they controlled the net as they had a match-high seven blocks in the third set. However, with the score tied at 18 the Mastodons scored five out of the next six points to help close the stanza.
• RMU's offense sputtered in the final set as they had eight kills with six attack errors to put them behind for the majority of the set. The Colonials were looking to come back and take the set down 20-18 until the Mastodons went on a 5-0 run to win the match and tie the series.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Sophomore outside hitter Jocelyn Jourdan was on fire for the Colonials as she had a career-high 19 kills along with eight digs and four blocks. Natalie Stepanovich recorded nine kills with 15 digs and two blocks. Azra Eric had a match-high seven blocks and added two kills and a team-high two aces.


UP NEXT
The Colonials will have a quick turnaround as they'll welcome in Youngstown State on Tuesday night at the UPMC Events Center. Match time is set for 6 p.m. and can be seen streaming live on ESPN+.

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