MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU volleyball team will begin their 2025 campaign on the road with a four-team tournament at Toledo. Along with Toledo, the Colonials will face off against Saint Francis and UAlbany as part of the Rocket Invitational taking place on Saturday and Sunday.

KEY RETURNERS TO WATCH
The Colonials will be led by a core of standout returning players. Natalie Stepanovich enters her junior season after a dominant sophomore year, topping the team with 254 kills (2.62 kills per set) and 360 digs (3.71 digs per set). Hillarie Adams, now a senior, remains a powerful offensive presence with 252 kills and 24 blocks. Azra Eric, stepping into her junior year, continues as a wall at the net—leading the team in blocks with 127 and chipping in 37 service aces, while also leading the Horizon League in all blocking categories last season. The leadership in the backcourt comes from setter Kaitlyn Brown, who distributed 315 assists (3.80 per set), served up 18 aces, and added 195 digs. Junior outside hitter Jocelyn Jourdan also returns after a strong season, having compiled 274 kills, along with 61 blocks and 63 digs last season.

NEW TO THE PROGRAM
The Colonials welcome five freshmen to the roster, each bringing strong high school credentials:

• Tia Schultz (RS, Dexter, Mich.) — Right-side hitter and multi-sport athlete from Dexter High School, expected to be a significant attacker and will be the lone left-handed hitter on the roster.
• Addyson Butts (MB, Washington Courthouse, Ohio) — Middle Blocker from Miami Trace High School, where she broke several career school records in kills, hitting percentage, and kill percentage.
• Isabelle Jackson (Setter, Westfield, Ind.) — Setter from Westfield High School, named First-Team All-Conference along with finishing her high school career with over 1,500 assists.
• Layla Todd (OH, Austin, Texas) — Outside hitter from Lake Travis High School, was named First-Team All-District along with being recognized as Offensive Player of the Year twice (2021,2022).
• Addison Fowler (DS/Libero, Zelienople, Pa.) — Defensive specialist from Seneca Valley, two time All-Section player along with being named to the Big 56 team during her senior year.

 
ALL-TIME VS. ROCKET INVITATIONAL OPPONENTS
Starting with RMU's opening match against Saint Francis, this will be the first time both PA schools will face off since the 2019 season. The Colonials all-time have a record of 66-11 against the Red Flash with RMU winning the last three matches in the series.

The Colonials will then battle UAlbany for just the third time in program history in the second match on Saturday afternoon. These teams played each other last during the 2022 season where RMU defeated the Great Danes in four sets. Seniors Kaitlyn Brown and Hillarie Adams had action in that contest with Brown leading the squad with 11 digs along with 18 assists while Adams tallied six kills in the Colonials victory.

RMU will then close out the tournament against the host school, Toledo on Sunday afternoon. The Colonials will face off against the Rockets for the first time in 10 years and own a short 0-2 record against Toledo.

UP NEXT
The Colonials will come back next weekend and host the Chick Fil-A Pittsburgh Volleyball Classic where they will battle teams such as Duquesne, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Loyola University Maryland. The opening match of the tournament will take place on Friday at 11 a.m. against FDU for a special Kid's Game matchup.

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