| 9/27/2008 1:30:28 PM

Click here for match stats against Stevens

Click here for match stats against St. John Fisher

HOBOKEN, NJ - The RIT volleyball team (7-12, 0-2 Empire 8) opened up Empire 8 play by falling to defending champion Stevens in three games and St. John Fisher in four games on Saturday.  The Ducks, who are ranked 24th in the nation, and hosting all of this weekend's matches, defeated RIT 25-9, 25-11, 25-16. St. John Fisher defeated RIT in the nightcap, 25-18, 25-21, 22-25, 25-17.

The Tigers recorded season lows of 20 kills and 17 assists in the match against Stevens.  Junior middle hitter Vic Petko (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) (East Amherst, NY/Clarence) led RIT with nine kills, two blocks and one ace.  NIchole Boxler (Varysburg, NY/Attica) recorded 14 assists and seven digs. 

In the match against St. John Fisher, freshman Megan Henriksen (Silver Spring, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel) (Silver Spring, MD/Our Lady of Good Counsel) recorded a match-high 24 digs.  Petko slammed nine kills, while Boxler had 39 assists.  Senior Kate Gleason (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) recorded 10 digs and eight kills.  Ashlie Baker (Northridge, UT/Northridge) (Northridge, UT/Northridge) blasted  a team-high 10 kills to go along with nine digs, while Laura Mooney (Petaluma, CA/Petaluma) (Petlauma, CA/Petaluma) had seven kills and a team-high three blocks.  Heidi Little (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) (Glenville, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) chipped in with nine kills.

RIT has now lost six straight matches, after winning seven of their previous eight.

The Tigers take on Ithaca at 10 a.m. and Utica at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday to conclude the weekend contests.