ROCHESTER, NY – The RIT volleyball team (12-6) dropped a three-set match to crosstown rival University of Rochester (11-5) from the Louis Alexander Palestra Wednesday evening. Rochester won the three sets by scores of 25-22, 26-24, 25-16.
 
RIT got off to a slow start early, falling behind 11-4 and 18-11 before cutting the deficit to 22-20, but could not complete the comeback in the opening set, falling 25-22.
 
In the second set, RIT raced out to leads of 7-0 and 13-5 before Rochester went on a 10-0 run to take a 15-13 lead. RIT would come back from 19-16 down to take a 24-22 lead before Rochester scored the final four points and take the set, 26-24 to hold a commanding two sets to none lead.
 
The two teams battled back and forth early in the third set before Rochester went on a big 16-6 run to end the match, winning 25-16.
 
The Yellowjackets hit .187 in the match and had 40 kills to 31 for RIT, who hit just .063. Rochester also won the battle of the digs, 50-41 and had eight blocks to two for the Tigers.
 
Rochester's Alara Kocak led all players with 16 kills, hitting .290. Clara Martinez had nine kills and six assisted blocks, while Aimee Kohler dished out 32 assists to go along with seven digs. Meghan Connor led all players with a match-high 17 digs.
 
Sophomore Liz Wunder (Penn Yan, NY/Penn Yan Academy) hit an impressive .400 with seven kills and a block to lead RIT offensively. Senior Sarah Szybist (Colorado Springs, CO/Ramstein) led the squad with 11 kills and 10 digs, but hit .051. Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) and Anna Valentine (Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon) added four kills each. Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) dished out 29 assists, while Valentine and Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) added nine and eight digs, respectively.
 
RIT leads the all-time series between the two schools, 50-39.
 
"Rochester did a really good job in the saving and passing game," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "They also blocked well which allowed their defense to do a great job. We needed to handle their pressure. I really like our team when we respond to that pressure. I expect we will work hard tomorrow to be ready for the weekend."
 
RIT is back in action this weekend, as they head to Fredonia State University to compete at the Blue Devil Invitational. RIT will take on John Carroll University on Friday at 5 p.m., then face Fredonia and Buffalo State on Saturday.