UNIVERSITY PARK, PA – The Rutgers women’s volleyball team split two matches today to conclude the Penn State Invitational with a 1-2 record. Rutgers fell to Akron, 3-1, in a 1:00 p.m. match by a score of 22-30, 30-26, 27-30 and 27-30. At 4:00 p.m., the Scarlet Knights swept Quinnipiac, 3-0, for their first victory of the season, 30-20, 30-20 and 30-14.

Against Akron, junior Shayla Bush (Spokane, WA) recorded a career-high 27 digs and added 13 kills to post her first double-double of the season. Freshman Sandra Nunner (Muenster, Germany) had an outstanding match, tallying a career-high 16 kills, along with 10 digs to record her first collegiate double-double. Senior Lauren Venarchik (Westminster, PA) added 12 kills, while sophomore Addie Thiry (Louiseville, KY) had seven total blocks (three solo, four assists). Senior co-captain Pualani Tuyay (San Diego, CA) had 48 assists.

In the sweep of Quinnipiac, freshman Courtney Stout (San Marcos, CA) notched the first double-double of her career, with 15 kills at a .500 hitting percentage, and 10 digs. Bush narrowly missed her second consecutive double-double, with 14 kills and nine digs. Nunner contributed 11 kills at a .400 hitting percentage and four digs and Tuyay added 42 assists.

One of the keys to the Scarlet Knights victory was a vast improvement in their team hitting percentage. The squad improved its hitting percentage from .123 against Akron, to .377 against Quinnipiac.

The Scarlet Knights will return to action next weekend at the George Washington Invitational. The team will face Morgan State on Friday, Sept. 6 at 11:00 a.m., then take on Radford and the host Colonials on Saturday, Sept. 7.