MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Natalie Stepanovich's 19 kills, 22 digs, and .354 hitting percentage led the way in Robert Morris' first ever victory over Wright State, 3-1 (25-21, 26-24, 15-25, 26-24) on Friday night. The win improves the Colonials record to 8-16 overall and 4-9 in Horizon League play. The Raiders, who were in second place coming into the evening, fell to 15-9 overall and 9-4 in the HL loop.
Jocelyn Jourdan recorded a double-double of 15 kills and 11 digs,
Tia Schultz had 11 kills,
Kaitlyn Brown had 41 assists, and
Jasmine Purakal added 31 digs.
Set 1: Robert Morris 25, Wright State 21
RMU had the advantage the entire set, never trailing. A
Keira Hornung kill gave the Colonials their largest lead of the set at 23-18. RMU held off a late WSU run to take the set 25-21.
Set 2: Robert Morris 26, Wright State 24
The Colonials trailed by as many as six points at 17-11 before an 8-2 run deadlocked the score at 19-19. The set would see three more ties before back-to-back kills from Stepanovich put RMU ahead 2-0 after winning the set 26-24.
Set 3: Wright State 25, Robert Morris 15
The Raiders took control on the later half of the set after an 8-0 run put them ahead 21-11. A blocking error gave WSU the set and pulled them within one.
Set 4: Robert Morris 26, Wright State 24
The set was tightly battle that went into extra points. Robert Morris rallied from an 18-13 deficit, fueled by a service ace and block-related errors by Wright State, to tie the score at 23-23. The Colonials earned the match point opportunity at 24-23, but Wright State battled back with a kill to tie it again at 24-24. However back-to-back kills from Stepanovich ended the contest, giving RMU the victory.
RMU remains at the UPMC Events Center for the second match against Wright State on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 2 p.m.
NET NOTES
- Wright State won the first 12 matches of the series that began in 1998.
- Brown tied a career-high with three aces
- RMU's 59 kills, 55 assists, and 83 digs are a 4-set season-best
- Stepanovich's .354 hitting percentage ties a season-best with Jourdan who also hit .354 earlier this season against Oakland
- Purakal tied her 4-set season-best with 31 digs.
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