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Brooklyn, NY -- A new NEC Women's Volleyball champion was crowned as second-seeded Robert Morris ended the three-year reign of top-seeded LIU Brooklyn on Sunday at the Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn, NY.  The Colonials posted a 21-25, 31-29, 25-14, 25-23 victory to claim the program's first NEC title since the 2003 season and eighth in school history.

After LIU Brooklyn won the opening set, the Blackbirds seemed on their way to a second set victory after opening up a 17-14 lead. But RMU would not go down easy, winning four of the next five points to set up a marathon battle that was finally won by the Colonials, 31-29, to even the match at a set apiece.

RMU used an 8-0 run in the third set to pull away to a 25-14 victory and put LIU's back against the wall.  The Blackbirds led for much of the fourth set, and held a five point edge at 20-15 before RMU reeled off seven straight points to take a 22-20 advantage. LIU would tie the game up again at 23 following a kill from Mirjana Rajic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sportska Gimnazjia), but RMU freshman Taylor Lord (Indoowd, WV/Musselman) would answer back with a kill to bring the Colonials to match point. When LIU's kill attempt went long, the celebration was on for head coach Dale Starr and his charges.

Tournament MVP April Krivoniak (Latrobe, PA/Latrobe) was the spark for the Colonial offense as she recorded 16 kills (.368) with nine digs on the night. NEC All-Tournament selection Kristin Thompson (Monroe, OH/Bishop Fenwick) added 15 kills for RMU. Junior Arden Fisher (Oakmont, PA/Riverview) and NEC All-Tournament honoree Brianna Frakes (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) posted double-doubles. Fisher paired 10 kills with 23 digs while Frakes finished with 12 kills and 15 digs. RMU freshman Allie Yurkovich (Jefferson Hills, PA/Thomas Jefferson) racked up 21 digs for the Colonials.

Two LIU players recorded double-doubles. NEC All-Tournament honoree Alex Larsen (Cary, IL/Cary-Grove) had 20 kills and 15 digs, while senior Tamara Ignjic (Belgrade, Serbia/First Economic) finished with 13 kills and 14 digs. Nicole Okeke (DeSoto, TX/DeSoto) was named to the NEC All-Tournament team after registering 12 kills on .706 hitting. NEC Libero of the Year Adriana Vinas Joy (San Juan, Puerto Rico/Colegio Marista) led the defense with 28 digs.

Robert Morris will now represent the NEC in the NCAA Tournament.  The selection show will take place live on ESPNU on Sunday, November 29 at 9:00 pm.

NEC All-Tournament Team
April Krivoniak (RMU) - MVP
Brianna Frakes (RMU)
Kristin Thompson (RMU)
Alex Larson (LIU)
Nicole Okeke (LIU)
Sarah Krufka (SHU)
Julia Flynn (BRY)
 

SATURDAY11.21.15semifinals
Match 1		#1 LIU Brooklyn	3		#4 Sacred Heart	1	FINAL		Box | Recap | Highlights
Match 2		#2 Robert Morris	3		#3 Bryant	1	FINAL		Box | Recap | Highlights
Sunday11.22.15championship
Match 3		#1 LIU Brooklyn	1		#2 Robert Morris	3	FINAL		Box | Recap | Highlights