ROCHESTER, NY – The visiting University of Rochester Yellowjackets (10-5) rallied from a 2-0 deficit to defeat the RIT volleyball team (9-6) in a five-set thriller from Clark Gymnasium Tuesday evening.
 
RIT led 22-16 in the fourth set and 12-9 in the fifth and decisive match before Rochester rallied both times to stun the Clark Gym faithful on Tiger Den night.
 
In the opening set, RIT led throughout, although Rochester would cut the lead to 23-22. An assisted block by Joelle Marston (Roxbury, NJ/Roxbury) and Shelby Doheny (Moreau, NY/South Glens Falls), followed by a service ace from Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) sealed the match for the Tigers.
 
RIT built a 16-10 lead in set two before Rochester came all the way back to take an 18-17 lead on a kill by Allie DeRubertis. RIT would roar back, scoring the next five points to go up 22-18. Back-to-back kills from Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) and Kelly Fellner (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) gave RIT the win in set two.
 
Rochester never trailed in set three en route to the 25-20 win, keeping the match alive. In set four, RIT would control from the outset, eventually building a 22-16 edge. Rochester would storm back, winning nine of the final 10 points to win 25-23, sending the match to a fifth and deciding set. The fifth set was a back-and-forth affair with RIT serving for the match at 14-13 before Rochester rallied.
 
RIT had 79 points to 68 for Rochester and won the battle of digs, 57-50. RIT committed 39 errors to 24 for Rochester.
 
"We play with great intentions but at times our casualness with individual touches causes us to make something a little more difficult than it is," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "When we eliminate some of our unforced errors and make better individual contacts, we will become a very tough team to play."
 
For the second consecutive Tuesday, Marston would record a career-high in kills, slamming 22. She had 18 last Tuesday in a win over St. John Fisher.
 
Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) recorded 15 kills, seven digs and two service aces, while Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) dished out a season-high 49 assists to go along with eight digs and four kills. Doheny had a team-high five blocks to go along with five kills, while Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) added six blocks and four kills. Defensively, Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) led all players with 19 digs, while Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) added 10.
 
Alara Kocak led the way offensively with 13 kills, while Beth Ghyzel added 11 kills and 10 assists. Renae Lapins had a team-high 27 assists, while Megan McHugh added six blocks and Courtney Vidovich recorded 17 digs.
 
The Tigers lead the all-time series between the two schools, 50-40.
 
The Tigers are back in action this weekend, as they travel to Gallaudet University in Washington D.C. On Friday, the Tigers take on Montclair St. University at 4 p.m. and Nichols College at 6 p.m. Saturday, RIT faces DeSales University at 10 a.m. and Kean University at 2 p.m.
 
I expect that we will learn from tonight and keep working hard to become the team we can," said Lodes."