MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The RMU volleyball team (2-9) opens Horizon League play Tuesday night when the Colonials welcome Youngstown State to the UPMC Events Center. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m., with the match streaming live on ESPN+.
ALL-TIME MATCHUP
Tuesday's contest marks the 52nd all-time meeting between the Colonials and Penguins, with Youngstown State holding a 39-12 advantage in the all-time series. At home against YSU, RMU owns an 8-17 record, with its most recent home victory coming Oct. 1, 2024, when the Colonials secured a five-set thriller in Moon Township.
LAST WHISTLE
The teams last met in Moon Township in October 2025, with the Penguins earning a 3-0 sweep over the Colonials at the UPMC Events Center.
Natalie Stepanovich paced the RMU offense with a team-high 13 kills, while Tia Schultz also reached double figures with 11 kills.
SCOUTING YOUNGSTOWN
Youngstown State enters Tuesday's matchup with a 4-7 overall record and is looking for its first road victory of the season.
The Penguins most recently earned a 3-1 victory over Kent State last Friday. Outside hitters Kylie Surratt and Layne Graffice each recorded a double-double to lead YSU.
Surratt finished with a team-high 18 kills while adding 13 digs and four aces. Graffice contributed 14 kills and 13 digs, while Kameron Blizniak recorded 22 assists and 10 digs.
RMU LATELY
RMU enters Horizon League play at 2-9 following a strong finish to the Natale Sporting Goods Invitational last weekend.
The Colonials picked up their first win of the season Friday with a 3-0 sweep of Siena before closing out the weekend Saturday with another 3-0 victory over Maryland Eastern Shore.
Against Siena, RMU turned in one of its most efficient offensive performances of the season, recording 66 kills while hitting .376 as a team. The Colonials also finished with 61 assists and 60 digs.
RMU followed with a .315 hitting percentage against UMES, recording 57 kills while holding advantages in kills, assists, aces and digs.
DECKER DELIVERS
Freshman outside hitter Lauren Decker enters conference play following a standout weekend.
Decker led the Colonials with 34 kills across RMU's two matches, averaging 5.67 kills per set. She hit .282 for the weekend, including a .317 attack percentage against Siena.
The Wadsworth, Ohio, native posted a career-high 19 kills in RMU's sweep of the Saints before adding 15 kills and 15 digs against UMES.
For her efforts, Decker was named an Under Armour #HLVB Player of the Week and selected to the Natale Sporting Goods Invitational All-Tournament Team.
CAREER WEEKEND
Several Colonials turned in career performances during RMU's two victories last weekend.
Kenlee Barnard recorded a career-high 53 assists against Siena before following with 43 assists against UMES. Layla Todd posted a career-high 12 digs against the Saints, while Maddie Siphakongviseth recorded a career-high 18 digs.
Siphakongviseth continued her strong defensive play against UMES, posting a match-high 17 digs.
OFFENSIVE MOMENTUM
RMU's offense has found its rhythm heading into conference play.
The Colonials recorded 66 kills while hitting .376 against Siena before following with 57 kills and a .315 hitting percentage against UMES.
Against the Hawks, Decker and Todd led the way with 15 kills apiece, while Keira Hornung added 10 kills while hitting .391. Addyson Butts contributed eight kills while hitting .500.
HORIZON LEAGUE PLAY BEGINS
Tuesday marks the beginning of the 2026 Horizon League schedule for the Colonials.
RMU's conference slate features home matches against Purdue Fort Wayne, Oakland, Cleveland State, Milwaukee and Green Bay. The Colonials will also travel to Youngstown State, IU Indy, Northern Kentucky, Wright State, Northern Illinois and Cleveland State.
The Colonials will look to carry the momentum from their two consecutive sweeps into Tuesday's conference opener at the UPMC Events Center.
