Tournament site

ROCHESTER, NY - The RIT volleyball team (7-4) rolled to wins over Alfred University (1-8) and St. John Fisher (7-5) on day one of the 27th annual RIT Invitational from Clark Gym on Friday. RIT defeated the Saxons in three sets to open the day and ended with a four-set win over St. John Fisher.

The Tigers hit a season-high .388 with 42 kills in the three sets. RIT used big runs in each set to pull away. In the opening set, RIT scored 19 of the final 24 points. RIT hit .520 with 15 kills in the second set and also had 15 kills in the final set.

Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein) returned to the lineup and hit .571 with 10 kills, five digs, and two blocks in just a pair of sets. Sara Martin (Rochester, NY/West Irondequoit) hit a career-best .500 with seven kills and five sets, while Laiz Novaes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Centro Educational) hit .375 with seven kills and seven digs. Sara Taylor (Tonanwanda, NY/Kenmore East), Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa), and Anna Valentine (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) added three kills each.

The duo of Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) and Emma Dowdy (Cocoa, FL/Edgewood) combined for 37 assists. Parkinson had 24 in two sets, while Dowdy dished out 13 helpers in the third set. Abby Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) led the squad with nine digs and four service aces, while Amy Van Hienen (Castor, Alberta/Gus Wetter) added six digs.

Jacquelynn Hicks and Heather D'Andrea had three kills each, while Aubrey Totsline dished out seven helpers. Mary Lou Patnaude added seven digs.

"I thought we had really good energy," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "We also kept many people involved. Overall I was pleased with our performance."

Against St. John Fisher, RIT kept up its strong play, scoring the first six points of set one en route to a 25-18 win in the opener. In set two, RIT led throughout in a 25-16 victory. St. John Fisher turned the tables in set three, scoring the first seven points, jumping out to a 14-3 lead before taking the set, 25-14. RIT never trailed in the fourth set, holding off a late Fisher rally to win 25-20.

Szybist led the wat offensively for the Tigers with 18 kills and 13 digs, while Novaes added 10 kills and seven digs. Wheeler hit .545 with seven kills, while Aleah Chinn (Wichita, KS/Witchita Southeast) had five kills and four digs. Van Hienen had a career-best six service aces, while Parkinson dished out 27 assists and Dowdy followed with 12. Higgins had 11 digs and had kills on all three of her atempts.

Katie Mazierski led the Cardinals with 10 kills, while Elise Kruez added 20 digs and Meghan Stonebarger dished out 21 assists.

"I thought we put together another solid match," said Lodes. "I'm excited about tomorrow!"

RIT concludes play in the RIT Invitational on Saturday with home matches against Oneonta State at 12 p.m. and Buffalo State at 4 p.m.