CANTON, NY – The RIT volleyball team (10-7) split a pair of matches at the Canton Classic hosted by SUNY Canton on Saturday. The Tigers opened the day by dropping a three-set match to the host Roos (12-3) and knocked off Keuka (3-9), also in three sets.
 
In the opener against Canton, the Tigers could not get the upper hand, despite recording 34 kills to 28 for Canton. RIT had 20 hitting errors to just six for Canton. The Tigers also had 13 serving errors to just five for the Roos.
 
Laiz Novaes (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/Centro Educational) led the Tigers with eight kills, hitting .273 to go along with 10 digs and a pair of service aces. Sara Taylor (Tonanwanda, NY/Kenmore East) hit an impressive .455 with six kills and four digs, while Sarah Szybist (Chicago, IL/Ramstein) and Amy Van Hienen (Castor, Alberta/Gus Wetter) added seven and five kills, respectively. Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) had 19 assists and 11 digs, while Emma Dowdy (Cocoa, FL/Edgewood) added 10. Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) also had a team-high 11 digs. Aleah Chinn (Wichita, KS/Witchita Southeast) added two solo blocks.
 
Morgan Bills led the Roos with nine kills in 18 attempts, while Peyton Robinson dished out 18 assists and Robyn Carroll recorded 12 digs.
 
"I think that SUNY Canton did a really good job this match applying pressure," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "How we react to that pressure in the future will determine just how good this team can become. I'm excited that we get another chance this afternoon to take steps in the direction we'd like to go."
 
The Tigers responded well in the second match, rolling to a 25-13, 25-14, 25-19 victory over Keuka. They had 49 points to just 22 for the Storm.
 
Szybist led the way offensively, hitting .636 with eight kills and three assisted blocks, while Novaes also had eight kills, eight digs, and two blocks. Van Hienen added nine digs and five kills, while Chinn hit .750 with three kills. Bennett had a team-best 17 digs with two kills. Kayla Wheeler (Clifton Park, NY/Shenendehowa) led the squad with four assisted blocks, while Abby Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) recorded four service aces.
 
Jadine Buddingh and Lauren Moelbert had four kills apiece to lead the Storm. Alyssa Rex added nine assists, while Kaitlin Burke recorded 10 digs.
 
"I thought we played a solid bounce back match (against Keuka)," said Lodes. "Our intensity was better and we also had better ball control, while many players contributed. I look forward to Liberty League next weekend."
 
Yesterday, RIT lost its only match, a five-set thriller to Medaille to kick off play at the Canton Classic. That match was played at St. Lawrence University.

The Tigers begin conference play next weekend, hosting the Liberty League crossover at Clark Gym. RIT plays nationally-ranked Clarkson and St. Lawrence on Fri., Oct. 2, and host Vassar and Bard on Sat., Oct. 3.