MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – In a tense fourth set, Oakland University Volleyball would mount a comeback in the UPMC Events Center as it defeated host Robert Morris on the road 3-1 in the first #HLVB game of the season.

Following Kennedy Dolmage's service ace to start the game, the Golden Grizzlies and Colonials would keep a tightly-contested first set as Patti Cesarini and Clarke Adams wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Despite RMU's first to 20 effort, Libby Gentile would tie things up once more in the latter half with Cesarini patching four kills to push the 25-23 set victory.

END 1 | Cesarini tools the block for the set victory.

Oakland 1, RMU 0 pic.twitter.com/KM3YLwU1LC

— Oakland Volleyball (@OaklandWVB) September 20, 2022

In the second frame, Oakland would have to climb up to Robert Morris' 19-point mark behind a 4-0 scoring run from Adams, Anna Nie, and two errors by the Colonials to make things more tense though the home blue and red would stay one step ahead and claim the set win at 23-25.

The third set, an 11-1 streak from OU would make it all Golden Grizzlies down the stretch with freshman Anika Prisby joining the scoring column as Oakland went up two sets to one after the ten-point win in the set.

With Oakland only needing one more set for its first #HLVB win of the year, Robert Morris would bounce off to a 12-0 run inside the UPMC Events Center with the set in hand at 19-10. A service error would be all the Golden Grizzlies would need, however, as Riedl, Cesarini, and Prisby would capitalize off of more and more Colonial errors to climb back and make the game 20-20.

SET 4 | 𝘛𝘐𝘌 𝘎𝘈𝘔𝘌, 𝘛𝘐𝘌 𝘎𝘈𝘔𝘌, 𝘛𝘐𝘌 𝘎𝘈𝘔𝘌

Oakland has knotted things up with a 9-0 scoring run.

Oakland 2, RMU 1 pic.twitter.com/HhzubSuflR

— Oakland Volleyball (@OaklandWVB) September 20, 2022

RMU would land two points for the slight edge before Riedl, a Colonial error, and a service ace from Emily Wichmann would give Oakland a lead at 23-22. It was Cesarini and one final attacking error by Robert Morris that would hand OU the 1-0 conference record at 25-23.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Cesarini had 19 kills followed by Adams with nine
• Rachel Rossman tallied 20 assists with AnnaBelle Tomei's 16
• Wichmann led defensive efforts with 16 digs
• The Golden Grizzlies fronted 11 blocks to RMU's five
• Oakland is now 8-0 against RMU

For the first time in 13 games, Oakland will have a home game on Friday, September 23 at 6:00 p.m. as it hosts Northern Kentucky in #HLVB action.