BOX SCORE

MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – Despite 11 kills from junior Laura Waddell (Lynchburg, Va. / E.C. Glass) and claiming the opening game, Radford fell to Robert Morris 3-1 (26-24, 22-25, 13-25, 22-25) on day two of the 2009 Duquesne / Robert Morris Tournament Saturday at the Sewall Center.

The loss drops the Highlanders to 1-2, while the Colonials improve to 2-1 on the young season.

In a match that was a lot closer than the final outcome indicates, the two teams battled to 30 ties and 15 lead changes.

Desiree Aramburu (Chicago, Ill. / Mother McAuley), who was held out of yesterday's match with Howard, impressed in just her second collegiate contest recording five kills (.625), 33 assists, seven digs and two service aces for RU.

For the second straight outing, Radford's Katelyn Meeks (Richmond, Va. / Mills Godwin) and Lauren Clary (Roanoke, Va. / Cave Spring) charted double figure digs with 11 and 10, respectively.

After falling behind early in the opening game, Radford scored six unanswered highlighted by four consecutive kills, including three from Aramburu, to grab a 10-6 advantage. Robert Morris rallied with a lengthy run of its own, but the Highlanders broke a 24-24 deadlock with consecutive kills from Carly Fleming (Manassas, Va. / Osbourn Park) and Waddell, respectively, to take the first frame.

Robert Morris jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second, but Radford quickly erased the deficit with a 10-4 spurt to go ahead 10-9. After battling back and forth midway through the game, the Colonials pulled away to even the match at the break.

Following Robert Morris' convincing win in game three, the fourth game was much like the second with the two clubs trading points early and often before the tournament host separated themselves late.

Amanda Graham led three Colonials in double figures and all players with a match-high 20 kills on 33 attempts (.545), while Alyssa Bennett paced both setters with 54 assists for Robert Morris.

The Highlanders will conclude their appearance in the season-opening event with a 3 p.m. match against Loyola (Md.).