| 10/20/2007 2:59:53 PM

Click here for stats vs. Nazareth

Click here for stats vs. Alfred

ALFRED, NY - The RIT volleyball team improved to 26-8 in 2007 and 5-1 in Empire 8 play with two wins on Saturday in Empire 8 crossover play on the campus of Alfred University.  The Tigers started the day with a four-game win over Nazareth College on Saturday morning .  RIT defeated the Golden Flyers 30-24, 26-30, 30-22, 30-25.  The Tigers then defeated Alfred 30-9, 30-16, 30-13.

Jessica Schaffer (Wellington, OH/Keystone) (Wellington, OH/Keystone) led the way with 21 kills and 20 digs.  Senior Shea Haney (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) became the 12th Tiger to surpass the 1,000-kill milestone at RIT.  She needed 10 kills to get to 1,000 today and slammed 14 while hitting .352.  Haney also had five blocks.  Michelle Skowzgird (Grayslake, IL/John Hersey) (Grayslake, IL/John Hersey) hit .392 with 13 kills.

Nichole Boxler (Varysburg, NY/Attica) (Varysburg, NY/Attica) had 52 assists and 14 digs.  Christine Rowinski (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) led the team with 21 digs.  Kristan Hernandez (Somerset, TX/Somerset) (Somerset, TX/Somerset) recorded 17 digs.  Vic Petko (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) recorded 11 kills.

RIT is now 2-1 in 2007 against Nazareth, having defeated the Golden Flyers in three games to win the RIT Invitational on Sept. 15 and losing in five games at the Nazareth Invitational on Sept. 28.

Petko drilled 12 kills and hit .450, while junior Heidi Little (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) hit .618 with a career-best 11 kills.  Hernandez and Schaffer each had 10 digs, while Boxler had 35 assists.  Schaffer also recorded seven service aces.

On Sunday, the Tigers face Ithaca at 10 a.m. and Elmira at 3 p.m., wrapping up Empire 8 regular season play. 

The team with the best record in the Empire 8 at the end of the weekend will host the four-team Empire 8 Championship on Nov. 3, with the winner earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.