CLEVELAND – Robert Morris (7-15,3-8 HL) got back on the winning track on Saturday afternoon, snapping its eight-match slide with a 3-0 (25-23, 25-19, 25-23) victory at Cleveland State ((5-17,3-8 HL)
 
The Colonials' attack was a balanced effort, orchestrated by setter Kaitlyn Brown, who tallied 40 assists in the victory. The offensive firepower was led by Natalie Stepanovich and Jocelyn Jourdan. Stepanovich paced the offense with a team-leading 16 kills, while Jourdan contributed 14 kills. Defensively, Azra Eric provided key support at the net, contributing to three assisted blocks. Jasmine Purakal recorded a team-high 14 digs.
 
Set 1: Robert Morris 25, Cleveland State 23
With the score tied at 12-12, Cleveland State pulled away with a 6-1 run, taking a lead at 18-13. However, back-to-back kills from Hornung and Jourdan, combined with an attack error, narrowed the gap to 18-16, forcing CSU to call a timeout. With the Vikings holding a slight lead at 23-21, a sequence of Robert Morris kills—first from Stepanovich, then from Eriç, and another from Stepanovich—flipped the score to 24-23. Jourdan then delivered the decisive blow with a final kill to win the set.
 
Set 2: Robert Morris 25, Cleveland State 19
Robert Morris dominated the beginning of Set 2, forcing a Cleveland State timeout as RMU took an 8-2 lead. RMU maintained this cushion through the middle of the set, reaching 14-8 on attack errors by CSU. Cleveland State fought back to narrow the gap to five points at 19-14. However, an ace from Eriç as well as kills from Stepanovich, quickly pushed the Colonials back to a late lead. Robert Morris sealed the 25-19 victory on a final kill by Jourdan
 
Set 3: Robert Morris 25, Cleveland State 23
Set 3 proved to be the tightest of the match, featuring two lead changes and six ties. Cleveland State used an early Colonials attack error to jump out to a 9-5 lead, forcing a Robert Morris timeout. After the timeout, the Colonials mounted a comeback, fueled by a 7-2 run that included a key service ace from Brown. Jourdan delivered a string of kills that tied the score at 16-16, and an attack error by CSU finally gave RMU the lead at 17-16. The set remained highly contested, with the score tying up again late at 23-23. Robert Morris ultimately secured the set and the match sweep on the final point with a kill from Stepanovich, winning 25-23.
 
RMU returns to the UPMC Events Center on Tuesday, Oct. 28 against Youngstown State. The Colonials remain at home for a series against Wright State on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1.
 
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