Youngstown State University
4-13,1-5Horizon
Robert Morris
9-9,2-4Horizon
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youngstown St. | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 13 | 2 |
| Robert Morris | 25 | 25 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 3 |
Volleyball Drops Tough Five-Setter at Robert Morris
10/8/2021 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Youngstown State volleyball team held the edge in most statistical categories, but the Penguins lost three sets by a total of six points in a 3-2 decision at Robert Morris on Friday evening. The set scores at UPMC Events Center were 25-23, 25-23, 19-25, 18-25, 15-13.
The Penguins had eight more kills, hit .103 higher, registered six more digs and recorded five more blocks than their nearest Horizon League rivals. RMU's edge was at the service line, where the Colonials had four more aces and four fewer errors.
Paula Gursching had a match and career-high 24 kills on 53 attempts, and she recorded an impressive .302 attack percentage. Nadia Pace provided 10 kills on 17 swings, and she was in on eight of the Penguins' 15 blocks. Her eight blocks were a career high. Josi Borum had a match-high 19 digs, and Lexie Beeke contributed a career-best 49 assists. Kiley Mitchell added five kills and five blocks in her first match of the season.
Alyson Londot had 16 kills and four blocks to lead Robert Morris.
In the first set, RMU built a 10-5 lead following an ace by Emma Granger, but the Penguins scored six of the next seven points to tie the score at 11. YSU knotted the set again at 14 but was never able to pass the Colonials. YSU hit .375 in the opening set, but Robert Morris countered with a .393.
The Penguins held the upper hand for the majority of the second set, and their final lead was 20-19. A kill by Borum tied the set at 23, and Granger answered with a kill to give the Colonials set point. Ally Christman served RMU's third ace of the set to give the home team a 2-0 lead in the match.
With their backs against the wall, the Penguins scored the first eight points of the third set behind Reilly Seagroves' serve. The YSU libero had two aces during the run, and Gursching had three kills. The lead grew to as much as a dozen twice before the Colonials cut the margin to five twice. Gursching had seven of her kills in the third set.
YSU went on a 9-4 run midway through the second set to take a 17-11 lead, and the Penguins comfortably won 25-18 to force a fifth set. Youngstown State hit .407 with 12 kills and just one error in the set, and Mitchell had two block solos and a block assist.
Youngstown State led 6-4 in the fifth following a kill by Amanda Lebioda, but a serving error sparked a key four-point run by the Colonials that gave them an 8-6 lead. The Penguins tied the score at 10, 11 and 12 but were never able to regain the lead. A kill by Gursching saved one match point, but the first-year outside hitter's next attack at 14-13 went wide.
The Penguins will continue their five-match road stretch with contests at Green Bay, UIC and Milwaukee next week.
