ROCHESTER, NY- The RIT women's volleyball team (13-14, 2-4 Liberty League) defeated Liberty League competitor Union College (11-18, 1-5 Liberty League) in five sets Friday evening on senior night at Clark Gym. RIT honored senior Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) before tonight's match. RIT hosts Skidmore tomorrow at 1 p.m. with a chance at advancing to the Liberty League Tournament.
 
RIT scored the first three points to start set one, before Union rallied, eventually leading 23-21. RIT scored four points in a row at the end of the set to win, 25-23. In set two, Union led throughout, winning 25-19. RIT won the third set, 25-22, before Union took set four, 25-19. Set five went back and forth, with Union gaining a 12-10 lead, before RIT came back to win 15-13.
 
Joelle Marston (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) led all players with a career high 23 kills and a hitting percentage of .224. Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) had 17 kills and a match-high 18 digs, while Sarah DelVecchio (Galway, NY/Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons) added 10 kills. Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) had 49 assists and two service aces. Bennett and Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) each had two service aces. Bennett also added 13 digs. Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) had 13 digs, while Kirstie Wehler (Saint Marys, PA/Elk County Catholic) added 11.
 
Gillian Gore had 19 kills to lead Union, while Sage Shimamoto had 44 assists on the night. Stephanie Libonati finished with 10 kills, four blocks and three service aces for Union.

"In an emotional senior night match, we found a way to win a close match," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "We are looking forward to Skidmore tomorrow afternoon."
 
RIT now leads the overall series with Union 10-9. It is the third straight time the two teams have gone to five sets.