STORRS, Conn. (Sept. 15, 2018) – Rutgers volleyball salvaged its Dog Pound Challenge finale with a four-set win over Holy Cross on Saturday morning at UConn's Gampel Pavilion.
 
Senior outside hitter Sahbria McLetchie was named to the All-Tournament Team with 44 kills (3.67 per set) on a .255 attack percentage, along with 13 total blocks during the three-match weekend.
 
THE LINE
Rutgers (6-7) 3, Holy Cross (1-12) 1 – 25-15, 25-23, 19-25, 25-18
 
KNIGHT NOTES

• Rutgers has outblocked opponents in 12 of 13 matches this season, outdoing Holy Cross 16-4 on Saturday. Rutgers ranked fourth in the nation heading into the weekend with 3.09 blocks per set, a number that will go up after the Scarlet Knights averaged 3.54 per set at the UConn tournament.
• Rutgers' 16 team blocks are a season-high and the second most for the program in a four-set match since 2008.
• RU moves to 4-0 all-time vs. Holy Cross.
• The Scarlet Knights improve to 5-0 this season when winning the first set.
• 55 kills are a season-high for Rutgers.

STANDOUT STATS

• McLetchie led all attackers with 15 kills on a .333 swing clip, adding five digs and three blocks.
• Freshman setter Inna Balyko handed out 43 assists to go with four kills and nine digs. She ran an offense that hit .336 in the match.
• Junior libero Karysa Swackenberg helped Rutgers outdig the Crusaders 48-32 with a match-high 14 scoops.
• Junior middle Stasa Miljevic paced the blocking efforts with nine assists, the second highest mark for a four-set match for Rutgers since 2008. She set the record with 10 on Sept. 8 of this season.

THE MOMENTS

• Set 1 | Down 14-13, McLetchie fueled a 6-0 run with a pair of kills and a service ace. The rally also included two of Rutgers' six blocks in the opening set on the way to a 25-18 win.
• Set 2 | McLetchie bounced three of her six kills in the set during an early 5-0 spurt. Holy Cross used a 4-0 rally late to take a 23-22 lead before Rutgers scored the final three points of the match, with the final two coming on Miljevic blocks.
• Set 3 | Rutgers got four kills from four different players on consecutive points for an early 5-1 lead, but the Crusaders came back on a 8-1 rally midway through the set.
• Set 4 | Riding a slim 16-14 lead, junior middle Jasmine Stackhouse helped throw up two blocks during a 5-0 run at a crucial time for a 21-14 advantage. Swackenberg assisted the final two kills of the match, one by freshman Anastasiya Kudryashova and one to freshman Anastasiia Maksimova.

UP NEXT
The Scarlet Knights kick off 2018 Big Ten play on Wednesday, Sept. 19 at Maryland with first serve set for 7 p.m.
 
 
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