HAMILTON, N.Y. (Sept. 14, 2019) – Rutgers volleyball won its second straight invitational title on Saturday evening, completing the clean sweep of the weekend with a straight-sets victory over hosting Colgate to claim the Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament.
The Scarlet Knights stretch their winning streak to six straight matches, the longest at Rutgers since 2012. RU has also won 12 straight sets, another first since 2012.
Senior middle
Jasmine Stackhouse and sophomore setter
Inna Balyko have been named to the All-Tournament Team. Stackhouse was successful on both sides of the net with 2.33 kills per set on a .578 attack clip and 16 total blocks (1.8 per set). Balyko orchestrated an offense that hit .294 on the weekend with 86 assists (9.6 per set), while adding eight kills, two aces, 30 digs and four blocks.
- The dominating weekend was capped by another Rutgers victory in which it led in all four major phases of the game: kills (33-29), aces (6-5), digs (33-30) and blocks (11-2).
- The hitting efficiency battle was tilted heavily in Rutgers' favor as the Scarlet Knights hit a season-best .325 while holding the Raiders to a paltry .010.
- Sophomore outside hitter Anastasiia Maksimova led Rutgers in kills for the fourth time this season, compiling nine on Saturday against Colgate on a .412 swing percentage.
- Balyko had a team-high 11 digs to go with her 29 assists.
- The middle blockers were errorless on offense and combined for nine blocks – Stackhouse had five kills on nine swings and seven blocks, senior Stasa Miljevic bounced seven kills on 10 attempts with two blocks.
- Set 1 | Up 13-11, sophomore outside hitter Tali Marmen started a 7-0 run with a kill and a subsequent service ace. Miljevic put the set away with a similar combo for the final two points at 25-17.
- Set 2 | Rutgers battled from behind after Colgate opened the period up 7-1 and 10-3 before head coach CJ Werneke called time. Out of the break, Marmen was in on three of the next six points with a kill and two blocks as a 5-0 run eventually tied the set at 13-13. It was the first of eight tie scores down the stretch before the Scarlet Knights won the final five points of the match, bookended by Marmen kills.
- Set 3 | Junior right side Beka Kojadinovic assisted on three blocks early to aid in an 8-1 lead, setting the tone for the clinching set. Kojadinovic had two more of her six total blocks later in the set during a 5-0 run for a commanding 21-10 lead.
- Stackhouse moved up to seventh place all-time at Rutgers with 328 total blocks, surpassing Lauren Cloyd (2013-16).
- Ranked 13th in the nation in team blocks per set, Rutgers has outblocked or tied opponents in eight of nine matches this season.
- RU has six or more aces in seven straight matches, going 6-1 over that span. Rutgers has led in aces in seven of nine matches this fall.
- Rutgers has won 12 straight sets. After dropping the opening set to Virginia, the Scarlet Knights won that match 3-1 before sweeps of New Hampshire, Quinnipiac and Colgate.
The Scarlet Knights play its final two nonconference matches of the season at American on Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. and at Howard on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.
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