| 9/13/2008 12:10:21 PM

Click here for stats vs. Nazareth

Click here for stats vs. SUNY Cortland

ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT volleyball team (6-6) had its six-match winning streak snapped on Saturday morning in the semifinal of the 20th Annual RIT Invitational by Nazareth (5-3) in a stirring, five-set dual.  The Tigers then defeated SUNY Cortland in a five-set thriller later on Saturday to claim third place honors.  RIT has now won six of its last seven matches.

In game one, Nazareth won the first two games, 25-21 and 25-15, before RIT came roaring back to win the next two, 25-19 and 25-20 to force a fifth and decisive game.  In game five, RIT held a 10-8 advantage before Nazareth scored seven of the final eight points and secure a 15-11 win.

Vic Petko (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) (Amherst, NY/Clarence) led RIT with 18 kills, while Nichole Boxler (Varysburg, NY/Attica) (Varysburg, NY/Attica) dished out 37 assists.  Dani Liesman (Ridgecrest, CA/Burroughs) (Ridgecrest, CA/Burroughs) recorded 14 digs.

In game one, RIT led 21-18, before Nazareth scored the final seven points.

The match was a rematch of the 2007 RIT Invitational Championship, which RIT won, 3-0.

Against SUNY Cortland, the Tigers dropped the first game 25-20, before rallying to come back and win games two and three, 25-16 and 25-20.  SUNY Cortland forced a fifth and deciding game by winning game four, 25-20.  In game five, Cortland led 8-4, before RIT roared back to tie the match at 8.  Cortland scored the next two points before RIT turned up the intensity getting seven of the final 10 points to win.

Petko, who was named to the All-Tournament Team, rapped 22 kills and added five blocks.  Ashlie Baker (Northridge, UT/Northridge) (Northridge, UT/Northridge) added eight kills, while Boxler recorded team-highs of 39 assists and 12 digs.  Angie Croshaw (Sonora, CA/Bret Harte) and Kate Gleason (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) each had 10 digs.  Heidi Little (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) recorded four blocks.

RIT is right back in action on Tuesday, as they host University of Rochester in a non-conference match starting at 7 p.m.