PITTSFORD, NY – The RIT volleyball team (7-5, 0-1 Liberty League) opened Liberty League play by falling at Vassar College (9-3, 1-0 Liberty League) in three sets from Kenyon Hall on Friday evening.
The first two sets were both back-and-forth affairs with several lead changes. In the opener, RIT led 22-17 and 23-19, before Vassar came all the way back to win, 27-25. Set two was knotted at 19-19 before Vassar scored five straight points en route to a 25-22 victory. The Brewers led throughout set three and outlasted RIT, 25-19.
RIT had 36 kills to 35 for Vassar and recorded eight service aces, but recorded 23 hitting errors to just 12 for Vassar.
Freshman
Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) recorded a double-double for RIT, hitting .419 with a match-high 16 kills, while adding 13 digs to go along with a pair of service aces. Junior setter
Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) dished out 30 assists and added nine digs. Junior
Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) had seven kills, while
Shelby Doheny (Moreau, NY/South Glens Falls) added a pair of blocks. Freshman
Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) chipped in with eight digs and a team-high three service aces.
Devan Gallagher led the Brewers with 15 kills, while hitting .419. Jane McLeod added 10 kills, while Jennifer Kerbs had a match-high five blocks. Annie MacMillan had 30 assists and Anna Zucchero recorded 13 digs.
"We fought really well and had numerous opportunities in the first two sets," said RIT head coach
Jim Lodes. "We still need to understand that each contact is an opportunity for one of us to better the situation. With our fight and a little better quality of contact, we will be a very difficult team to play against. I'm excited for another chance tomorrow to watch this team continue to grow. "
The Tigers lead the all-time series between the two schools, 16-10. Tonight's match was a rematch of last season's Liberty League Semifinal, which Vassar won in a five-set thriller.
RIT is right back in action on Saturday with a pair of matches. The Tigers take on Liberty League foe Bard at 1 p.m. and face SUNY Poly at 3 p.m. Both matches will take place on the campus of Bard College.
