ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT volleyball team (8-5) split a pair of matches at the 27th annual RIT Invitational held at Clark Gym on Saturday afternoon. RIT began the day with a tough, five-set loss to SUNY Oneonta (7-5), but rebounded to defeat Buffalo State College (7-6) in three sets. Junior Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein) was named Tournament Most Valuable Player for the third straight year, while Laiz Novaes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Centro Educational) earned All-Tournament Team honors.
In the opener against Oneonta, RIT won the first two sets by scores of 25-21 and 25-20, before the Red Dragons took the third set, 25-19. The Tigers led 6-0 in set four before Oneonta came roaring back for another 25-19 win. The Red Dragons completed their big comeback with a 15-12 fifth set win.
Novaes led the way for the Tigers with a career-high 17 kills to go along with 17 digs. She also added a pair of service aces. Szybist slammed 19 kills to go along with 12 digs, while Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) added 43 assists. Amy Van Hienen (Castor, Alberta/Gus Wetter) had 10 kills, 10 digs, and three service aces, while Abby Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) recorded 12 digs.
Jill Darpino led the Red Dragons with 18 kills, while Allyson Coniglione had a match-high 21 digs. Jessica Pelaccio added 23 assists.
"I feel we had stretches of very good energy and a reasonable compete level," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "With that said, we need to maintain that intensity and attention to the details. When our process is good, we are typically also playing well. Oneonta did a great job of playing in the next moment."
In the final match of the day, RIT took the first set, 25-17, needed a big rally to take set two, 25-13, and closed out the match with a 25-22 victory in set three. In set two, RIT rallied from 17-12 down for the win.
Szybist shook off a slow start to record a team-high 14 kills to go along with seven digs and four assisted blocks. Novaes had eight kills, while Aleah Chinn (Wichita, KS/Witchita Southeast) hit .500 with six kills. Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) and Anna Valentine (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) led the way defensively with 11 and 10 digs, respectively, while Parkinson dished out 37 assists to go along with three service aces. Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) had five kills and four blocks.
Hannah Renaldo led the Bengals with seven kills, while Jennifer Cecchettini added 14 assists. Rachelle Kelchlin helped out defensively with 11 digs.
"I was very pleased with our effort and execution against Buffalo State," said Lodes. "I thought we bounced back well and hope this will set the tone for next week."
RIT went 3-1 over the weekend. On Friday, the Tigers rolled to wins over Alfred and St. John Fisher.
The Tigers continue their homestand with a non-conference contest against local rival University of Rochester on Tuesday, Sept. 22 that gets underway at 7 p.m.
