MEDFORD, MA – The RIT volleyball team (4-2) split a pair of matches at the New England Invitational hosted by Tufts University on Friday evening. The Tigers rolled to a three-set win over Anna Maria College (3-3) in the opener, before falling to No. 23 Tufts (2-0) in the final match.

The Tigers used a balanced to defeat Anna Maria by scores of 25-10, 25-21, 25-13 in the opener. RIT hit .278 as a team and had five different players slam at least five kills.

Junior Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East), freshman Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) and sophomore Kirstie Wehler (Saint Marys, PA/Elk County Catholic) had seven kills apiece, while sophomore Shelby Doheny (Moreau, NY/South Glens Falls) added six and freshman Kelly Fellner (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) recorded five. Taylor and Higgins led the way with seven digs apiece, while Higgins and Fellner had a pair of blocks each.
 
Junior Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) dished out 21 assists in two sets, while freshman Brianna Ellis (Wayne, PA/Radnor) added five. Taylor and Wehler also added three service aces apiece as 14 different Tigers saw the floor.
 
Rebecca Foti led Anna Maria with nine kills, while Kerri Earle dished out 13 assists.
 
"We played a solid match against Anna Maria and were able to use our depth," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "I think we stayed disciplined throughout most of the match."
 
In the nightcap against No. 23 Tufts, the hosts won the first set, 25-15, before RIT took set two, 25-20. Tufts rallied to win set three, 25-21 and used a big run to break open a close fourth set and win 25-14.

The Tigers were led by a match-high 13 kills from Taylor. Higgins added 12 kills and seven digs along with five blocks. Senior Rebecca Bennett (Springfield, PA/Springfield) led the way with 12 digs and two service aces, while Doheny added a team-high six blocks.  Parkinson finished with 30 assists. 

The Jumbos were led by nine kills each from sophomores Brigid Bell and Christina Nwankpa. Bell added nine digs and Nwankpa added three blocks.  Heather Holz finished with six kills and five blocks and Jordan Kron tallied eight kills and three blocks. Klimo added a match-high 17 digs, while Angela Yu finished with 28 assists.

"I'm really excited about how we played against a very good Tufts team," said Lodes. "After a slow start, we played very well until the last 12 points of set four. We hopefully learned that we can compete at a high level. Matches like this will help us get prepared for competing for Liberty League play."
 
RIT is right back in action on Saturday for day two of the New England Invitational, this time at Brandeis University. RIT takes on UMass Boston at noon and will face the hosts at 2 p.m.