Following back-to-back disappointing 9-20 record seasons, the Robert Morris volleyball squad is preparing for another season, with this one loaded with lots of highly competitive teams.
Since joining the Horizon League in 2020, the volleyball team remains the only team not to make a postseason tournament. But there have been steady improvements, like last season. The team just missed out on a tournament berth but still won 5 games, the most they had ever won in conference.
This year, Northern Illinois enters the mix, meaning the Colonials will have more work cut out for themselves. Yet RMU will have a packed non-conference schedule to get through first, starting with the UCF tournament, where they’ll play the hosts as well as Stony Brook and NC State on August 28 and 29.
The Colonials’ home opener will once again be the Chick-fil-A Classic, this year bringing the likes of Elon and Eastern Michigan into town on September 4 before going to cross-town rival Duquesne the next day.
The Towson Invitational takes place on September 11 and 12 and will see RMU go against the likes of Arkansas, Howard, and the Tigers themselves.
Before beginning Horizon League play, the Colonials will take on Siena and UMES on September 19 and 20, both games being at the UPMC Events Center.
Conference play will start on September 22 for RMU, with the Colonials welcoming Youngstown. Other key Horizon League matchups include a bout with last year’s champion, Wright State, on October 24 and a spooky first-time meeting with newcomers Northern Illinois for a series on October 30 and 31.
The Colonials will close out their regular season at home against Green Bay on November 14. The game will also be Senior Day.
RMU is only bringing back 8 players from last year’s roster, most notably former freshman standout Natalie Stepanovich, who is back for her senior season.
Stepanovich is the only senior on RMU’s current roster. The team currently boasts 4 juniors as well, making the bulk of the Colonial’s 15-woman roster largely sophomores and freshmen.
While many might take that as a sign of inexperience, it could also lead to a fun and unpredictable ride for RMU Volleyball.
