| 10/21/2007 2:22:12 PM

Click here for stats vs. Ithaca

Click here for stats vs. Elmira

ALFRED, NY - The RIT volleyball team extended its winning streak to eight matches and improved to 28-8 in 2007 and 7-1 in Empire 8 play after defeating Ithaca 30-17, 30-24, 30-22 and Elmira, 30-11, 30-22, 30-16 on Sunday in Empire 8 crossover play on the campus of Alfred University.  The Tigers finish second in the Empire 8 regular season standings.

Jessica Schaffer (Wellington, OH/Keystone) (Wellington, OH/Keystone) led the way with 19 digs and 15 kills.  Senior Shea Haney (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) contributed 13 kills and three service aces, while hitting .440. 

Nichole Boxler (Varysburg, NY/Attica) (Varysburg, NY/Attica) had a remarkable .875 hitting percentage, with seven kills in eight attempts to go along with 42 assists.  Christine Rowinski (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) recorded 16 digs.  Vic Petko (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) recorded 12 kills and five blocks.

As a team, RIT hit .347 in the win over Ithaca.

The Tigers hit .397 to defeat Elmira.  Petko hit .576 with 16 kills with five blocks.  Schaffer had 15 kills, while Boxler recorded 39 assists and hit .857.  Rowinski led the squad with five service aces.

Petko broke the RIT single-season record for assisted blocks in one season with 138.  The previous record was 136, held by Erica Nissen in 1996.

Yesterday, RIT defeated the Golden Flyers 30-24, 26-30, 30-22, 30-25.  The Tigers then defeated Alfred 30-9, 30-16, 30-13 in other Empire 8 play.

Stevens will host the four-team Empire 8 Championship on Nov. 3, with the winner earning an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament.  Stevens will host #4 Ithaca in one semifinal, while #2 RIT and #3 Nazareth will face off in the second semifinal.

The Tigers are expected to be the #1 seed in next week's NYSWCAA Championship Tournament, which will be held on the campus of New York University.