CANTON, NY — The RIT (15-11, 8-4 Liberty League) women's volleyball team split its final two Liberty League matches of the regular season on Saturday at St. Lawrence University. RIT finishes 8-4 in league play and clinches a postseason berth. RIT can currently finish as high as first and as low as fourth.
 
In the first match of the day, the Tigers defeated host St. Lawrence (8-14, 1-6 Liberty League) in five sets. After taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the match, RIT dropped the third and fourth sets, by scores of 25-16 and 25-17. In the final set, however, the Tigers staved off a comeback with a dominant 15-6 victory.
 
"We had a great start against an inspired St. Lawrence team. They have great energy and just won't quit," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "I'm proud of us finding a way to win but also want us to match or exceed any opponent's energy and fight. We are a really good team when we are confident, relentless and trust each other. We finished very well in set five."
 
Senior Sarah Szybist (Colorado Springs, CO/Ramstein) led all players on the floor with 18 kills in the opening match of the day, along with 13 digs. Sophomore Liz Wunder (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy) had 11 kills on 23 attacks (30.4 percent), while junior Anna Valentine (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) added 12 digs and seven kills. Sophomore Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) added 35 assists and 14 digs for the Tigers.
 
Amanda Teppo finished the match with 14 kills for St. Lawrence. Also producing for the Saints were Katie Kull (40 assists, seven kills and six digs), and Katie Rowell (17 digs).
 
In the second match of the day, the Tigers fought in a hard-battled five-set thriller, in which Union (17-9, 4-5 Liberty League) came out on top in five sets. The teams went back in forth in the first four sets, with no team winning two in a row. In the fifth, it took sudden death for Union to put the Tigers away, 16-14.
 
"Union competes so well and be relentless. I'm proud that we fought with them but also think we had several opportunities to potentially take control of this match. Union did everything they needed to to win but I still want us to try to take care of our side of the net better. We have the talent to compete for a Liberty League championship but will need to be disciplined and relentless when competing for each point."
 
Szybist again led the match with 27 kills, to go along with 18 digs. Parkinson recorded a double-double, with 36 assists and 21 digs. Valentine, freshman Maria Simonetti (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) and junior Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) also gave contributions for RIT.
 
Union's Katherine Moeller had a match-high 30 digs in the win, while Ally VanDoren registered 18 kills and two service aces. With a double-double, Amanda Price contributed a match-high 40 assists and 10 digs.
 
The Tigers return to action this upcoming weekend  when they host the annual RIT Invitational in Clark Gym. RIT begins play on Friday with Utica at 3 p.m., before playing host to Trine at 7 p.m. Saturday's slate of games for the Tigers includes St. John Fisher at 10 a.m. and DeSales at 2 p.m.