TOLEDO, Ohio – RMU Volleyball fell in both matches on opening day of the Rocket Invitational, dropping contests to Saint Francis and UAlbany. The Colonials will close out the tournament tomorrow afternoon against Toledo.

Match 1: RMU vs. Saint Francis

• Both teams went back and forth early in the opening set before RMU used a 6-2 run, sparked by Azra Eric and Tia Schultz, to take a 12-8 lead. Saint Francis rallied to tie it at 22, but the Colonials answered with three straight points to secure the set, 25-22.
• RMU struggled to get going in the second frame, tallying just one early kill while committing nine attack errors and seven service errors. The Red Flash pulled ahead and evened the match with a 25-19 win.
• The third set started evenly, but Saint Francis capitalized late with an 8-2 run to finish it off, 25-17.
• In the fourth, the teams were tied at 5 before SFU rattled off 8 of the next 10 points for a 13-7 lead. Natalie Frost and Hillarie Adams each had three kills, but RMU couldn't close the gap, falling 25-19 as the Red Flash won the match, 3-1.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Junior middle blocker Azra Eric led RMU with nine kills, two blocks, and an assist. Hillarie Adams chipped in with seven kills along with a career-high 13 digs. Freshman Tia Schultz made her RMU debut and recorded five kills and two blocks. Addyson Butts also played in her first career match and had three kills and two blocks in her debut. Jasmine Purakal led the squad with 16 digs while freshman Layla Todd had one kill which was the first of her career.
 
Match 2: RMU vs. UAlbany

• RMU opened with energy, as Jocelyn Jourdan recorded two early kills to pace the attack. UAlbany responded with a 10-2 run to grab a 19-9 lead and took the first set, 25-14.
• The Colonials improved offensively in the second, hitting .200 with 13 kills. Eric added three blocks, while Adams and Eric led a late surge to pull within 23-22. UAlbany held on, taking the set 25-22.
• The third set was tied at 7 before the Great Danes put together an 8-0 run to pull away. They hit a match-best .379 in the frame to finish the sweep, 25-17.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Senior Hillarie Adams was a dual-threat player in this match as she led the team in both kills (9), and digs (8). Azra Eric led the squad with four blocks while Kaitlyn Brown led the group with 23 assists.
 
UP NEXT
The Colonials return to the UPMC Events Center next weekend for the Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh Volleyball Classic, which will feature matchups against Duquesne, Fairleigh Dickinson, and Loyola Maryland. All matches can be seen live on ESPN+.