ROCHESTER, NY– The RIT volleyball team (14-24) dropped its first two matches of the 2013 NY Regional Challenge, in two three set losses to crosstown opponent Nazareth (22-6) 25-22, 25-20, 25-14, and Stevens Institute of Technology (25-6) 25-15, 25-19, 25-13 on a cool Friday night at Clark Gym.

From the outset RIT and Nazareth battled hard as the lead changed hands several times in the opening set. As the set began to wind down, some late errors cost the Tigers as the Golden Flyers pulled away for the 25-22 win. Set two was very similar between the two squads as it came down to the end where Nazareth once again was able to close it out 25-20. Nazareth was able to take over from there, controlling the third set from start to finish with a 25-14 win.
 
#Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein)# who played limited sets for the Tigers, led the team with eight kills. Defensively #Abby Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru)# came up with 11 digs, while #Emma Dowdy (Cocoa, FL/Edgewood)# recorded a team high 12 assists in the match.

In the second match of the night, the Tigers struggled in the first set against Stevens Institute of Technology as the Ducks cruised to a 25-15 win. The second set however RIT showed some fight as a late comeback brought them within two points of the Ducks, 21-19, only to drop the set 25-19. The third set was all Stevens who finished off the Tigers with a 25-13 win.

Szybist once again led the team with 13 kills while Dowdy had 14 assists and added 16 digs to go along with it. Higgins had another solid match defensively adding 13 digs of her own.

The Tigers take the court in Clark Gym tomorrow at 3 p.m. to wrap up the New York State Regional Championship and their 2013 season with a match against New York University, looking to finish the season on a positive note.