Rutgers University
1-3
Harvard
1-0
Volleyball Narrowly Edged By Harvard
Sep 04 | Women's Volleyball
CAMBRIDGE, MASS. (Sept. 4, 2015) - Despite a double-double from sophomore outside hitter Meme Fletcher (Overland Park, Kan.), the Rutgers volleyball team was edged by Harvard on Friday night at the Malkin Athletic Center. The Scarlet Knights narrowly fell to the Crimson by scores of 25-22, 25-22 and 25-23. Rutgers dropped to an overall record of 1-3, while Harvard opened 2015 with a mark of 1-0.
Fletcher registered her first double-double of the year, notching 15 kills and 12 digs in the loss. Junior middle blocker Lauren Cloyd (Champaign, Ill.) followed with eight kills, while senior outside hitter Alex Lassa (Eagle, Colo.) and junior middle blocker Mikaela Matthews (San Diego, Calif.) added six kills each. Senior setter Anna Sudbury (Tomahawk, Wisc.) contributed a season-high 31 assists.
Defensively, freshman middle Tiaja McKnight (Los Angeles, Calif.) led the Scarlet Knights with four total blocks. Senior defensive specialists Ali Schroeter (Bakerfield, Calif.) and Ronnie Komisarek (San Monteo, Calif.) combined for 22 digs.
Harvard was led by junior setter Corrine Bain, a unanimous 2014 All-Ivy League First Team selection, with a triple-double in kills (11), assists (24) and digs (10). Senior outside hitter Kathleen Wallace followed with a double-double of her own, registering 11 kills and 11 digs.
SET ONE
Despite starting off the set with a huge block from Cloyd and McKnight, Rutgers got off to a slow start, trailing Harvard by as many as three points. Behind on the board, 12-11, the Scarlet Knights kicked it in to gear with three straight points highlighted by a service ace from freshman Bree Coffey (Cary, Ill.) to move in front, 13-12. The Crimson would not let up as they re-extended their lead to 21-17. While the Scarlet Knights kept the score within two at 22-20 with a kill from Matthews, it was not enough to surpass the Crimson, as Harvard took set one, 25-22.
SET TWO
Rutgers and Harvard opened the second set trading points, however, the Scarlet Knights were able to generate a 12-8 lead. Rutgers maintained its momentum as an ace from McKnight put RU up, 15-10. The Crimson attempted to regain an advantage, but the Scarlet Knights kept at most a five-point cushion on the scoreboard. Although Rutgers held control for the majority of the stanza, generating a 22-17 lead, Harvard delivered eight unanswered points to claim set two by a score of 25-22 and grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the match.
SET THREE
Set three remained balanced from the start as the squads traded points and the lead. Back-to-back kills from Fletcher gave the Scarlet Knights a 16-13 advantage, turning the control to Rutgers side of the court. Despite RU maintaining an advantage and jumping to a 20-15 lead, Harvard retaliated with an 8-2 run to move in front 24-22. A kill from Matthews held Harvard at match point, but it was not enough to stump the Crimson. Harvard claimed the match in three with a final set score of 25-23.
KNIGHT NOTES
- Meme Fletcher registered her first double-double of the season, registering 15 kills and 12 digs.
- Fletcher has led the Scarlet Knights in four straight matches, averaging 4.83 kills per set.
- With six kills in tonight's match, Alex Lassa brought her career total to 914, moving her three kills away from breaking into the top 10 in the Rutgers record books.
- Tiaja McKnight has started four straight matches to begin her career "On the Banks."
- Rutgers' overall record of 1-3 to start the year, marks the first time since 2011 the Scarlet Knights have registered a slow start in the first four matches of their campaign.
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics) and (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding women's volleyball, follow the program on Twitter @RUvball.
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