BROOKLYN, N.Y. – The Long Island University volleyball team won their fifth-straight game to end the regular season on a high note, and in the process, spoiled the perfect record of Robert Morris. The Sharks upset the previously undefeated Colonials, 3-1 at home Saturday afternoon, 25-15, 25-23, 20-25, 25-19.
 
The Sharks were led by senior Kora Schaberl, who had her eighth double double of the season, with 16 kills and 11 digs. Freshman Barbora Hoskova also had a double double, with 11 kills and 11 digs, along with two blocks and a service ace.
 
LIU jumped out to an early lead Saturday, capitalizing on RMU errors to go up, 2-1. From there, freshman Fleur Wiersma went on a spree, registering a kill, followed by a solo block, a block with Barbora Hoskova, and another kill, single-handedly putting LIU up, 6-1. The Colonials were on their heels, and wouldn't recover in the first set. A kill from Hoskova would keep LIU's lead at 5, 17-12, and a few points later, a kill from Schaberl would make it 20-14. RMU would manage to get one more point, but the Sharks ended the set on a 5-0 run, taking the first set with ease, 25-15.
 
The second set was closer. LIU would once again jump out to a 3-1 lead, but this time, Robert Morris kept it close. Up 8-6, a kill from Miranda Strongman sparked a Shark run, as four unanswered points put LIU up, 12-6. RMU would use a run of its own to close the gap back to two points, and stayed close from there. A late kill for the Colonials would give them hope, 22-20, and a block a few points later made it 24-23, but a kill from freshman Karolina Nova ended the set in favor of the home team, 25-23.
 
Fighting to stay in the match down 2-0, RMU came out strong in set three, and jumped out to a 4-1 lead. But LIU would score three straight points, including kills from Wiersma and Schaberl, to tie it up, 4-4. The Sharks would keep it close the whole set, tying it up at 14-14, and staying alive down 23-20, but RMU managed to get the back-to-back points that they needed, taking the third set, 25-20, and forcing a fourth set.
 
But the fourth set went LIU's way from the start, as the Sharks opened on a 6-0 run. Two blocks, a kill from Nova and a kill from Schaberl opened the run, and a service ace from Nova was icing on the cake. Another kill from Schaberl and another ace from Nova eventually gave LIU an 8-1 lead, and the Sharks dominated from there. The Colonials would eventually cut the lead down to 11-8, but a short time later, LIU would score four unanswered points to widen the gap to a 17-9 advantage. Despite a late run by RMU, it was too little, too late, and a kill from Hoskova gave the Sharks the set four win, 25-19, and the match advantage, 3-1.
 
LIU also had strong performances from Wiersma, who finished the game with 12 kills and three blocks, and Nova, who had nine kills, 11 digs and three service aces. Senior Amanda Hubbard had 46 assists in the win, while Anastasia Scott led the defense with 21 digs.  
 
With the win, LIU finishes the regular season with a 12-16 overall record, and 11-5 in the Northeast Conference.
 
Up next, the Sharks will head to Moon Township, Pa., to take part in the 2019 Northeast Conference volleyball tournament, being hosted by top-seeded Robert Morris, Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23.