Box Score WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 21, 2019) – Rutgers volleyball (6-5) dropped its nonconference finale at Howard (3-10) in four sets on Saturday afternoon.

STANDOUT STATS

• Sophomore outside hitter Anastasiya Kudryashova's 14 kills led the Scarlet Knights on an efficient .364 attack clip with just two errors in 33 swings. The Russia native added five digs and a block.
• Junior right side Kamila Cieslik posted her third double-digit kill effort of the season with 11.
• Sophomore setter Inna Balyko supplemented her 39 assists with four kills, two aces and a team-high five blocks.
• Howard led in kills (56-52), digs (50-37) and blocks (10-7), while Rutgers held a 4-2 advantage in service aces.

KEY MOMENTS

• Set 1 | Balyko paced Rutgers to an early lead by getting in a couple of blocks and racking up four assists during the 10-6 start to the match. Howard responded with a 9-2 run powered by eight kills. Cieslik and Marmen picked up kills down the stretch to keep it within a point or two before the Bison closed it out, 25-22.
• Set 2 | Again, the Scarlet Knights led early with senior middle Jasmine Stackhouse contributing a block assist and a kill during a 4-0 run. Howard chipped away through the middle of the set for a 13-13 tie before an 8-1 Howard rally turned into a 19-14 lead it would not relinquish en route to a two-sets-to-none advantage.
• Set 3 | Balyko got Rutgers on the board with a service ace, then proceeded to direct a .556 team attack percentage in the frame. The sophomore setter posted eight assists, two kills and two block assists in the 25-15 win.
• Set 4 | Five different tie scores led the tight fourth set to a 15-15 deadlock before a 4-0 Howard spell tilted the Bison toward match point at 25-19.

KNIGHT NOTES

• Winning the third set, Rutgers is now 8-3 in that period this season.
• Rutgers has led in service aces in eight of 11 matches this season, going 6-2 in those matches.
• The Scarlet Knights' .223 attack percentage was their highest in a loss this year.

UP NEXT

The Scarlet Knights open Big Ten play at home against Michigan on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. inside the College Ave. Gym.
 
 
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