INDIANA, PA. – The Roberts Wesleyan women's volleyball team got off to a slow start to their season as they went winless in four matches at the Quality Inn Crimson Hawk Invitational hosted by Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
 
It was no light task for the Redhawks to open the season as they faced challenging competition, including the No. 6 ranked team in the country in Palm Beach Atlantic. The three other opponents all finished with winning records in 2016.
 
"We had some stretches of very good play against some very good teams," said head coach Doug Porterfield. "We have work to do, but we are on the right track."
 
Roberts found the most success in Saturday's matchup against Ursuline College taking the match into five sets where the Redhawks ended up falling 15-9. Junior Kristina Button led the offense with 12 kills. The Davison, Mich. native combined for 20 kills on the weekend which was the second highest total for the four matches behind senior Courtney Taylor's 25 total kills.
 
The Redhawks will look to find a rhythm with seven newcomers to the team this year. Roberts split time at the setter position between senior Elisabeth Rivera and freshman Nikki Simmonds who both finished with 29 assists on the weekend. Offensively the Redhawks posted just a .115 attack percentage compared to that of .271 of the opponents.
 
Defensively junior Shelby Strausbaugh led the charge with 42 digs over the four game stretch and Button added four solo blocks and four block assists.
 
The women's volleyball team will look to get on track on Tuesday when they host Brockport for an exhibition match in the Voller Athletic Center. Game time is slated for 7 p.m.