PITTSBURGH, PA — The RIT women's volleyball team (20-12, 8-4 Liberty League) split two matches on day one at the Carnegie Mellon Invitational, with a four-set loss to Case Western Reserve University (16-8), followed by a three-set sweep of Elizabethtown College (6-19).
 
In the opening match, the Tigers took the first set 25-21, but were not able to hold off the Spartans, as Case Western (16-8, 2-5 UAA) took the next three sets in a row, by scores of 25-23, 25-17, and 25-19.
 
Senior Sarah Szybist (Colorado Springs, CO/Ramstein) led the Tigers with 19 kills and and 11 digs, while sophomore Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) had a double-double with 42 assists and 10 digs, along with three kills. Sophomore Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) had 11 kills, and sophomore Liz Wunder (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy) and freshman Sarah DelVecchio (Galway, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) had eight kills apiece for RIT. Junior Anna Valentine (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) was steady for RIT as well, with eight digs and six kills.
 
Case Western's Brianna Lemon led all players on the floor with 20 kills, in addition to six digs, while Shannon Carroll helped pace the Spartans offense with 24 assists, 10 digs, and six kills. Karley King finished with 10 kills and three assists, while Karina Bondelid also added a match-high 15 digs for the Spartans.
 
"We did really good things this match," said head coach Jim Lodes. "I thought we had opportunities and just have to stay confident and disciplined when feeling pressed by a good team."
 
In the second match, against Elizabethtown College (6-19, 0-6 Landmark), the Tigers took the first two sets by dominating scores of 25-13 and 25-15. RIT was then able to stave off a comeback by the Blue Jays in the third set, as the Tigers finished the third set with a 26-24 victory.
 
Szybist led all players on the floor with 19 kills, along with nine digs. She hit an incredible .533 in the match. Valentine also added 12 digs, nine kills, and nine assists, hitting .412. Both junior Montana Vescovi (Le Roy, NY/Le Roy) (17 assists) and Parkinson (16 assists) helped pace the Tigers in the win. Wunder also added six kills in the match, while Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) added 11 digs.

RIT hit .381 as a team in the win with 51 kills.
 
Mackenzie Garner led the Blue Jays with nine kills, and Gabby Anders added 18 assists. Brooke Ricks also added 10 digs for Elizabethtown.
 
"This was a really good bounce back match for us," said Lodes. "To get refocused right after a difficult match and execute was impressive. We also had several people contribute in a quality win. I really am excited for tomorrow's matches."
 
The Tigers will be back in action Saturday to face Messiah College at 1 p.m. and host Carnegie Mellon University at 3 p.m.