| 11/3/2007 6:03:08 PM

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HOBOKEN, NJ – Second-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology (31-9) advanced to the 2007 Empire 8 Women's Volleyball Championship as it defeated Nazareth College (26-11) in five games (33-31, 24-30, 30-22, 22-30, 15-12) during the semifinal match on Saturday at the Canavan Arena in Hoboken, NJ. The Tigers will now face the Ducks in the final round at 7 p.m., which will be carried live at www.Empire8.tv .
 
RIT was led by sophomore middle hitter Victoria Petko (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) (East Amherst, NY), who registered 13 kills and a pair of blocks. Senior middle hitter Shea Haney (Newark, DE/St. Elizabeth) (Newark, DE) totaled 12 kills, 10 blocks and four service aces, while freshman libero Kristan Hernandez (Somerset, TX/Somerset) (Somerset, TX) finished with 19 digs.
 
The Tigers also received strong performances from junior outside hitter Christine Rowinski (Dix Hills, NY/Half Hollow Hills East) (Dix Hills, NY) and senior outside hitter Michelle Skowzgird (Grayslake, IL/John Hersey) (Grayslake, IL). Rowinski amassed 15 digs and nine kills. Skowzgird chipped in with eight kills, four digs and three blocks. Junior setter Nicole Boxler (Varysburg, NY) totaled 37 assists with 12 digs and seven kills in the victory.
 
Nazareth senior right-side hitter Elizabeth Tregan led the way with 21 kills on 47 attempts (.298 hitting percentage). Junior outside hitter Laura Persico totaled 17 kills and 11 digs. Sophomore setter Kate Zwickl led in assists with 51 and registered 13 digs and three blocks. Sophomore outside hitters Katelynn Reed and Carra Vanderstyne (had solid performances for the Golden Flyers. Reed posted five aces and five kills, while Vanderstyne finished with 11 kills.
 
Sophomore setter Mallorie Clary led Nazareth in digs with 28. Sophomore middle hitter Hillary Adam added 10 kills on 22 attempts (.409 hitting percentage). Sophomore libero Natasha Villane totaled 14 digs and four service aces in the defeat.