The Robert Morris volleyball team just finished their non-conference play in the Mountaineer Invitational. They dropped all three games against tough opponents in North Dakota State, Old Dominion, and West Virginia.

The Colonials’ (3-8) conference play does not get any easier as they will welcome the defending Horizon League champions Wright State (4-7) to the UPMC Events Center Tuesday evening to start conference play.

The Raiders were slated at the number one spot in the Horizon League preseason poll, led by Taylor Bransfield, Callie Martin, and Aaliyah Byers. All three were members of the All-Horizon League First-Team in 2022. The Raiders lead the Horizon League with a 16.33 average points per set.

Later on in the week, the Colonials will hit the road as they will take on Cleveland State on Friday. The Vikings (6-5) ranked fifth in the season in the preseason polls. Sophomore Laken Voss is the key player to watch for the Vikings, as she leads the Vikings in kills with 123 kills and 11 service aces.

As soon as the Colonials are finished in Cleveland they will travel to Oakland for a Saturday matchup against the Golden Grizzlies (6-6). The Golden Grizzlies were tabbed sixth overall in the preseason poll for the 2023 season. The player to watch for Oakland is junior Emily Wishmann who leads the team in digs with 256, 100 more than second-place, Oakland.

The Colonials are coming off a tournament where senior outside hitter Abby Ryan missed all three games due to a lower-body injury. Her status for Tuesday’s game is unknown. If Ryan remains out, the Colonials have faith in their young players, including Natalie Stepanovich, who is coming off a 20 kills and 24 digs performance against West Virginia.

The Colonials have a lot in store for them with three games in five days The first serve comes at 6 p.m. on Tuesday against Wright State.