MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The Green Bay volleyball team won their fourth straight match in Horizon League play Saturday afternoon against Robert Morris in four sets (25-22, 18-25, 25-20, 25-21). The road win moved GB to 6-10 overall and 4-0 in league play. The Phoenix is tied at the top of the HL standings with Milwaukee who is also 4-0.
The Phoenix offense was paced by Hannah Vanden Berg, who finished with 18 kills. Tiffany Paalman added 17 and Cora Behnke chipped in with 11 as part of the balanced GB attack. Emma Johnson finished with a career-high 53 assists.
Defensively, GB had three players reach double figures in digs, including 19 from Abby Gardner and Emma Best. Kennedy Schmitz also chipped in with 13. From the front row, Paalman and Vanden Berg each had five kills.
The Colonials were led by Natalie Stepanovich who finished with 16 kills. Rosina Esposito and Hillarie Adams also chipped in with 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 | The Phoenix grabbed the first point and never looked back before winning the first set 25-22. GB's offense was on fire in the set, finishing with 19 kills with a .326 attack percentage.
SET 2 | Robert Morris responded emphatically with a 25-18 set victory to tie the match at one set apiece. With the frame tied at 7-7, the Colonials used a 10-3 run to grab control with a 17-10 lead. RMU cruised with that seven-point lead the rest of the way and closed out the set.
SET 3 | The Green & White responded at the beginning of the third set by jumping out to a 10-3 lead. The two teams traded points the rest of the way, but that initial lead proved to be enough for the Phoenix to secure the set, 25-20.
SET 4 | Green Bay secured their second win of the weekend after claiming the fourth set, 25-21. The fourth set was tight the entire way, evidenced by nine lead changes throughout.
GAME NOTES
» Gardner's 19 digs is a season-high.
» Gardner had a team-high two aces.
» Green Bay finished with a .274 attack percentage compared to RMU's .217.
» GB was dominant at the net, finishing with eight blocks to RMU's one.
» Ellie Kurpeikis chipped in with three blocks of her own.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Phoenix are slated for a Horizon League unbeaten matchup with Milwaukee on Tuesday, October 3 at 6 p.m. in Milwaukee. The winner will have sole possession of first place in the league.
###
For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics and Green Bay Volleyball, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.
Follow us on Twitter: @GBPhoenix and @GBPhoenixVB.
Follow us on Instagram: @GBPhoenix and @GBPhoenixVB.
Like Green Bay Phoenix Athletics and Green Bay Phoenix Volleyball on Facebook.
To receive Green Bay Volleyball news via email, please fill out this form.
---GreenBayPhoenix.com---
