Box Score Sept. 17, 2016 Final Stats
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (Sept. 17, 2016) - The Rutgers women's volleyball team (4-9) suffered a loss in a thrilling five-set match against Seton Hall (6-7) on Saturday morning at the College Ave Gym. The contest concluded the 2016 Rutgers Invitational.
Meme Fletcher posted her fourth double-double of the season to pace RU with 16 kills and 10 digs. Mikaela Matthews notched a season-high eight blocks in the loss.
Seton Hall was led by Danielle Schroeder with a match-high 17 kills to go with a .469 hitting percentage. Grace Forren posted a double-double with 11 kills and 14 digs in the SHU win.
Rutgers raced to a 5-0 lead in set one behind the serves of Megan Sharkey. Although an SHU timeout stumped the run, the Scarlet Knights continued to grow their lead to 12-6, leading by as many as six on two occasions. With the score 16-10 RU, the Pirates discovered an 8-2 surge to tie up the set, 18-18. A point-for-point battle began on the court, as Rutgers held the edge to close the first frame with the win.
Despite Seton Hall carrying its late momentum into the second set, Rutgers diminished the Pirate edge by tying the score 7-7. SHU regained at most a three-point edge across the following serves. Trailing 18-16, Rutgers notched seven consecutive points, including two kills and an ace from Fletcher, to gain the lead for good at 22-18. The Scarlet Knights closed the frame with a 26-24 victory for a 2-0 advantage in the match.
After the Pirates responded by evening the match with wins in the third and fourth set, Rutgers regained its rhythm in the decisive fifth frame. The score was tied four times before the Pirates found an 8-6 edge at the midway point. Following a kill for Mikaela Matthews, Fletcher added in RU's next three kills to tie the score up, 10-10. Next, the duo of Matthews and Cole Trimble notched a block followed by a kill for Duffin to give RU the lead 12-10. However, the momentum fell short of carrying the Scarlet Knights to victory.
NEXT UP
Rutgers remains home to open Big Ten play with Penn State on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Match is set for a 7 p.m. start at the College Ave Gym.
RUTGERS INVITATIONAL ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
MVP:Maggie O'Connell, Princeton
All-Tournament: Cara Mattaliano, Princeton
Kelly Matthews, Princeton
Matea Mamic, Seattle
Shea Harris, Seattle
Tessa Fournier, Seton Hall
Lauren Cloyd, Rutgers
KNIGHT NOTES
- Meme Fletcher posted her fourth double-double of the season, matching her season-high with 16 kills to go with 10 digs.
- Mikaela Matthews reset her season-best with eight blocks.
- Jillian Duffin was two shy of her career-best with 10 kills in the match.
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