ROCHESTER, NY — The RIT (17-11, 8-4 Liberty League) women's volleyball team took both matches in the first day of play in the 28th annual RIT Invitational in Clark Gym on Friday. In the first contest, the Tigers defeated Utica College (5-22) in a three-set sweep. RIT took down Trine University (3-19).
 
The Tigers took the first set by a dominant 25-8, before backing that up with set wins of 25-13 and 25-12. RIT finished the match with 15 service aces, including five from junior libero Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield). The Tigers out-scored the Pioneers 49-21 in the match, including a dominant 10-2 kill comparison in the opening set. Overall, RIT hit .361.
 
"We had a really good match with our first contacts," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "Our serve reception and defense allowed us to be in system. We were also able to get contributions from everyone that is healthy. This was a good start to the tournament."
 
Senior Sarah Szybist (Colorado Springs, CO/Ramstein) led all players on the floor with 12 kills for the Tigers, while sophomore Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) and Montana Vescovi (Le Roy, NY/Le Roy) combined for 23 assists. RIT's production was spread throughout the lineup, as nine different Tigers recorded kills. Sophomores Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) and Liz Wunder (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy), along with senior Lauren Gotsch (Derby, NY/Lake Shore) all contributed four kills apiece for the Tigers. Bennett also led the squad with six digs.
 
For the Pioneers, Andreana Kroup led the way with 10 digs and Hannah Voss had a team-best nine assists.

In the night match, RIT came out on top  by scores of 25-20, 17-25, 25-8, 25-16 against Trine University. The teams split the first two sets, before RIT dominated in set three, with 10 kills compared to just one from Trine.
 
"I thought we did a really good job in the serve and receive game, except for in set two," said Lodes. "We played well on defense and I was excited about how we responded from the second set and played in the final two. Overall, it was a great first day of the tournament for us."
 
Szybist led all players with 19 kills, in addition to five digs and two blocks, while middle blocker Sarah DelVecchio (Galway, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) had nine kills and two blocks. Parkinson chipped in with 35 assists and Bennett led the team with 19 digs and three service aces. Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) added six kills.
 
Shannon Scott (six kills and two digs) and Janaya Wilder (seven digs and five kills) led Trine. The Tigers  had 43 kills to just 24 for Trine in the match.

After the match, RIT honored seniors Szybist, Valentine, Lauren Gotsch (Derby, NY/Lake Shore), and Arielle Pariente (Twinsburg, OH/Twinsburg).
 
RIT returns to action on day two of the RIT Invitational on Saturday, where they will face St. John Fisher (9-13, 4-2 Empire 8) at 10 a.m., before finishing the weekend against DeSales (15-9, 4-1 MAC Freedom) at 2 p.m. Both matches will be played at Clark Gym.