MOON TOWNSHIP– This weekend, the RMU Volleyball team (3-0) played in the inaugural sporting event at the brand-new UPMC Events Center, sweeping the RMU Sheraton Invitational by downing Elon, Manhattan College and McNeese State.

After sweeping Manhattan 3-0 and playing all five possible sets against Elon, winning 3-2, the Colonials took on the McNeese State Cowgirls (2-1). The Cowgirls also were 2-0 heading into the match, similarly defeating both Elon and Manhattan.

In the first set, the Cowgirls started off strong, going on a 14-10 run before RMU took a timeout to try and regroup. The timeout worked in the Colonials favor, as they stormed back with an 8-2 run to force McNeese into taking a timeout of their own. However, the timeout was no help, as RMU went on a 7-5 run to win the set 25-23 and go up 1-0.

The teams traded 6-4 runs in the second set, but the Cowgirls pulled away, going on a 15-10 run to finish off the Colonials and get their only set win of the match, 25-20.

McNeese State was poised to win another set, as they took advantage of some misses by the Colonials to race out to a 5-0 lead before RMU took a timeout. The timeout proved to be a turning point, as RMU went on a 6-1 run to make McNeese State take a timeout. The Colonials then followed it up with a 6-4 run before another Cowgirls timeout. Robert Morris then finished off the third set with a 13-9 run to win the set 25-19.

The final set was all Colonials, as they thoroughly dominated the Cowgirls. Back-to-back 6-4 runs followed by a 7-3 and a 7-4 run put the Cowgirls away, as RMU won the final set 25-16, completing the sweep of the tournament competitors in the process.

Emma Granger led the way with 12 kills, while Whitney Brown continued to add to her impressive career assist numbers with 28 in the match. Maria Alfano had 16.5 points to lead the Colonials against the Cowgirls.

The volleyball team will be back in action on September 6, when they head to Kent State for the Golden Flashes Classic.