NORFOLK, Va. – Rutgers volleyball returned to the win column on Friday afternoon, ending nonconference action by taking down UMES in straight sets at the ODU Invitational.

The Scarlet Knights prevailed 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20 for their fifth sweep of the 2024 campaign.
 

• Rutgers served up 13 aces, marking the fourth most in a match and second most in a three-set match by the Scarlet Knights in the rally era. It was the most aces in a match since also serving up 13 aces against FDU on Sept. 17, 2022, and the most in a three-set match since capturing 13 aces against Buffalo on Sept. 2, 2017.
• Five different Scarlet Knights served up a point from the service line, with four Knights with multiple aces. RU was led by five aces from Lexi Visintine, marking the eighth most in a match and second most in a three-set match by a Scarlet Knights in the rally era. Visintine's five aces also set a new career high for the junior.
• Visintine and freshman Avery Jesewitz led RU in kills with nine.
• Junior Aly Borellis set the offense up with a season-high tying 23 assists.
• On defense, it was redshirt freshman Krista Dooley with three blocks and freshman Alleigh Dutton with nine digs.

• SET 1 (25-23) | Rutgers aced the opener behind six from the service line, including a trio by Lexi Visintine. An ace by Visintine and back-to-back kills by Avery Jesewitz helped fuel five straight for the Scarlet Knights to go out to a 12-8 lead. UMES, however, responded with six straight prompting an RU timeout with the Hawks up 14-12. Another Jesewitz swing followed by another Scarlet Knight ace, this time from Natalie Robinson, knotted the frame at 14-14 for the first of six ties down the stretch. The Scarlet Knights used a 5-1 burst supported by two more aces from Visintine for a 23-21 advantage. While the Hawks came back to tie at 23-23 with two consecutive kills from Nkemjika Ikemefuna, Rutgers took the lead off a Natalie Robinson kill and Hawk attack error. Jesewitz posted nine kills to lead RU.

• SET 2 (25-18) | Errors proved costly for the Hawks early and RU never trailed. Four straight miscues helped the Scarlet Knights to a 6-1 run and established a 12-5 edge. RU pushed its lead to as many as eight and never allowed UMES closer than four. Alissa Kinkela swung for four of her eight total kills in the set, including set point, as RU hit a match-best .348 as a team. Lily Bolen also collected two aces.

• SET 3 (25-20) | There were nine ties before Rutgers took over the final frame. Down 12-9, the Scarlet Knights came out of a timeout to go on a 9-2 run to go ahead 18-15 and never relinquish the lead while only allowing the Hawks back-to-back points once the rest of the way. During the burst, Robinson captured a solo block, Visintine put away her fifth ace of the game along with two kills and Jesewitz added a pair of kills. The match ended with RU outscoring UMES 7-4. Visintine totaled two aces and five kills.

• Rutgers volleyball kicks off Big Ten play with both games next week featured on BTN.
• The Scarlet Knights begin the conference slate hosting Iowa on Thursday, Sept. 26 at 6 p.m. with Chris Vosters and Mac Podraza on BTN. Admission to all home games is free.
• RU will also visit Michigan on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. with Chris Vosters and Elena Shklyar on the call with BTN.