| 11/6/2004 9:34:10 PM

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ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT Women's Volleyball team dropped a five-set match at the hands of rival Nazareth College on Saturday afternoon in the Empire 8 semifinals held at Ithaca College.

The Tigers won the first game by a score of 30-19, Nazareth battle back to even the match at a game apiece with a 30-25 win in game two.  RIT took game three 30-26, but Nazareth won game four also by a count of 30-26 and then took the decisive fifth game 15-11.

Junior outside hitter Christina Anabel (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) was tremendous for RIT, leading the squad with 30 digs, 22 kills and three service aces.  Bonnie Harriman (Danbury, CT/Danbury) (Danbury, CT/Danbury) and Laurie Underhill (East Aurora, NY/Mt. Mercy Academy) (East Aurora, NY/Mt. Mercy Academy) each recorded 14 kills.  Harriman also compiled 22 digs and three blocks. 

Senior setter Sarah Ballard (Lake View, NY/Frontier) (Lake View, NY/Frontier) finished with a season-high 60 assists, to go along with 21 digs.  Junior libero Laura Grell (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) recorded 16 digs.  

RIT (24-12) will now await a possible NCAA Tournament at-large bid, or earn a spot in the ECAC Championships.  Last season, the Tigers won the 2003 ECAC Championship.