| 9/1/2006 7:11:12 PM

Click here for RIT vs. Russell Sage stats

Click here for RIT vs. U-Mass Boston stats

Click here for RIT vs. SUNY Oswego stats

Click here for RIT vs. Union stats

Click here for RIT vs. Nazareth stats

ONEONTA, NY - The RIT women's volleyball team opened its 2006 season with five straight wins en route to winning the Red Dragon Invitational Hosted by SUNY Oneonta on Friday and Saturday.  The Tigers, led by tournament MVP Jessica Schaffer (Wellington, OH/Keystone) (Wellington, OH/Keystone) defeated Nazareth 15-30, 30-21, 30-26, 30-15 in the championship to cap a perfect 5-0 weekend.

Earlier in the day, the Tigers dispatched SUNY Oswego and Union in three games apiece to get to the championship game.

Schaffer led RIT with 54 kills and added 49 digs in the five matches.  Juniors Shea Haney (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) and Cecilia Enestrom (Medicine Hat, AB/McCoy) (Medicine Hat, AB/McCoy) were also named to the All-Tournament team.  Haney slammed 52 kills to go along with a team-best 15 aces and 48 digs.  Enestrom recorded 72 digs and 54 kills.

Setters Nichole Boxler (Varysburg, NY/Attica) (Varysburg, NY/Attica) and Kate Gleason (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) dished out 90 and 83 assists respectively on the weekend.

On Friday, the Tigers picked up a pair of wins, defeating Russell Sage 30-26, 30-21, 30-25 in the opener and U-Mass Boston 30-15, 30-15, 30-24 in the second match.

This is the second straight year that the Tigers won the Red Dragon invitational. 

RIT is back in action on Friday, Sept. 8 and Saturday, Sept. 9 at the Ithaca Invitational.