Rutgers University
1-2
UC Riverside
2-1
Volleyball Picks Up Victory Over UC RIverside
Aug 29 | Women's Volleyball
SANTA CLARA, CALIF. (Aug. 29, 2015) - Highlighted by its first victory of the 2015 campaign, the Rutgers volleyball team spilt its final day at the Santa Clara Tournament on Saturday at the Leavy Center. Despite a loss to host Santa Clara, the Scarlet Knights ended the weekend on a high note with a 3-0 win over UC Riverside.
Sophomore outside Meme Fletcher (Overland Park, Kan.) led the Scarlet Knights with a total of 43 kills across the three matches, averaging 4.78 kills per set. Junior middle Mikaela Matthews (San Diego, Calif.) followed with 20 kills of her own, along with a team-best 13 blocks.
Defensively, senior Ali Schroeter (Bakersfield, Calif.) led the team with 40 digs across the three games, while classmate Ronnie Komisarek (San Monteo, Calif.) added on 31 digs.
GAME ONE: RUTGERS AT SANTA CLARA - L, 3-0 (21-25, 13-25, 19-25)
In the match against Santa Clara, Fletcher paced Rutgers in kills (12) for the second straight match. Defensively, Schroeter and Komisarek contributed 12 digs each in the contest.
The Broncos were led by junior outside Nikki Hess, a 2014 All-West Coast Conference First Team selection, with a match-high 14 kills. Sophomore setter Kirsten Mead, the 2014 WCC Freshman of the year, added on 34 assists for SCU.
Set one started off slow for Rutgers, as Santa Clara moved in front to an 11-4 lead. It was a tremendous solo block by Matthews that gave RU some momentum, cutting into SCU's edge, 18-11. Although the Broncos would continue to pull away to 23-15, the Scarlet Knights found their rhythm to outscore SCU, 6-1, to set the score at 24-21. However, the surge fell short as Santa Clara took the first, 25-21.
Despite the rhythm RU found in the first set, SCU jumped to a 12-6 advantage to start the second. A 5-2 run for the Scarlet Knights would diminish the Bronco lead at 14-11. Rutgers continued to inch up on the scoreboard, but, ultimately, Santa Clara took the frame, 25-13, and a 2-0 lead in the match.
The score remained balance to open the third set, but Santa Clara claimed an edge. After delivering a kill, Matthews registered a block on the following serve to bring the frame back in reach at 15-11. Trailing 22-15, RU tacked on three consecutive points to close in on SCU. The Broncos stumped the comeback to take the match with a final set score of 25-19.
GAME TWO - RUTGERS VS UC RIVERSIDE - W, 3-0 (25-21, 26-24, 25-19)
Led by a match-high and career-high 18 kills from Fletcher, Rutgers captured a victory over UC Riverside in three straight sets. Senior setter Anna Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wisc.) contributed 21 assists, followed by sophomore setter Talia Holze (Wheaton, Ill.) with 19 of her own.
UC Riverside was paced by junior outside Fabiana Rosa with 12 kills, while freshman defensive specialist Chelsea Doyle added a match-high 24 assists.
Although the squads went point for point to open the match, Rutgers maintained an edge on the scoreboard. UCR snuck ahead, 17-16, but not for long as a kill from Fletcher put RU back in front, 18-17. The teams would continue to trade points, but the Scarlet Knights never relinquished their control. With the RU lead at 24-21, Fletcher delivered a kill to claim the win for RU in set one.
Set two played out similar to the first, as the teams traded points yet again. Despite UC Riverside generating a slight advantage, Rutgers kept the score within two. The Scarlet Knights reclaimed their edge at 14-13 with a kill from Fletcher, her fifth of the set. The Highlanders attempted to hold off the Scarlet Knights as the score stayed balanced, but RU would not falter. Rutgers went on to claim the second straight set with a kill from Matthews.
With a 2-0 advantage in the match, the Scarlet Knights maintained their momentum into set three. Although UC Riverside managed to keep the count balanced, Rutgers held the Highlanders off, leaping to a 16-10 lead. RU held its dominance for the remaining serves, sealing the victory with a kill from Fletcher at a mark of 25-19.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Rutgers finished the Santa Clara Tournament with a mark of 1-2 to open the 2015 campaign.
- Meme Fletcher paced the Scarlet Knights in all three matches this weekend, averaging 4.78 kills per set.
- With five kills across today's contests, senior outside Alex Lassa brought her career total to 908, leaving her nine kills away from breaking into the top 10 in the Rutgers career record books.
- Freshman Tiaja McKnight saw action in all three matches for RU this weekend, tallying 13 kills and seven blocks.
Next up, Rutgers travels to Cambridge, Mass. for the Harvard Invitational from Friday, Sept. 4 to Saturday, Sept. 5. The Scarlet Knights will face host Harvard, Long Beach State and Illinois State.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's volleyball, follow the program on Twitter @RUvball.
-RU-
