UMBC

Hannah Schmidt recorded her fourth double-double of 2012

BALTIMORE – UMBC sophomore outside hitter Hannah Schmidt (Baltimore, Md./Mount de Sales) recorded her fourth double-double of the season with 11 kills and 15 digs as the Retrievers defeated Robert Morris, 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-20), Friday morning in the first contest of the Maddie Bingaman Tournament at the RAC Arena.

For Schmidt it was her fifth contest with double-digit kills this season while junior middle blocker Emily Witsaman (Medina, Ohio/Medina) was also in double figures with ten winners. 

Freshman setter Paige Miller (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) spread the ball around nicely throughout the match recording a total of 37 assists, including at least one to six different teammates.

After a cagey opening, UMBC broke open the set by going on a 9-2 run to claim a seven point lead, 13-6, after a kill by redshirt freshman Krystal Mlemchukwu (Baltimore, Md./Western Tech).  Robert Morris (2-6) answered with a rally to pull within three at 13-10, but could not get any closer.  Leading 20-16, the Retrievers won three straight points, then held off a late charge to claim the opening frame, 25-20.

The second set was a similar story as neither team could break away from the other, tying 10 times along the way.  UMBC finally took the lead and never trailed again by winning five consecutive points including a kill each from Witsaman and junior Hallie Carter (Huntington Beach, Calif./Edison).  Robert Morris put up a rally of its own, however, and climbed back and tied the set one more time at 21 before the Retrievers claimed four of the last five points in the set to win 25-22.

In set three, the Retrievers came out firing and took a 9-5 lead on a kill by senior Ali Loynachan (Whitby, Ontario/Sinclair).  Following two straight points for the Colonials, UMBC ran off six consecutive points to stake to a 15-7 advantage.  Robert Morris strung together a few runs, but ultimately could not catch the host Retrievers who swept the match with a 25-20 third set win.

The Retrievers return to the court for their second contest of the tournament on Friday evening to host Pac-12 opponent Colorado at 7 p.m. at the RAC Arena.

DAWG BITES

-          With the win, UMBC leveled the all-time series with Robert Morris at six wins each.

-          The Retrievers win was the team’s first over the Colonials since a 3-0 sweep in 2000.

-          UMBC has now won its past four home-openers.  The Retrievers last loss in a home-opener came in a 3-2 defeat to UMES in 2008.