ITHACA, NY – The RIT volleyball team (17-3, 4-1 Liberty League) had its 15-match winning streak snapped, falling in four sets at No. 18 Ithaca College (13-5, 5-0 Liberty League) in a battle of Liberty League leaders from the Ben Light Gymnasium Wednesday evening. RIT won the first set, 25-22 before Ithaca took the next three by scores of 25-19, 25-20, 25-21.
Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) recorded a double-double to lead the Tigers, slamming 15 kills, while compiling 13 digs.
Katie Hobler (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) had 14 kills, eight digs and two blocks, while
Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) added five kills.
Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) dished out 36 assists,
Maria Simonetti (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) recorded a team-best 15 digs and
Kelly Fellner (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) added three blocks.
Reagan Stone led Ithaca with 18 kills to go along with nine digs and two blocks. Setter Caitlin Floyd handed out 47 assists in addition to five kills and two blocks. Katie Evans added 15 kills, while Taylor McCarthy chipped in with 13. Tara Stilwell recorded a match-high 19 digs to help the Bombers cause.
The Tigers emerged victorious in a spirited opening set, 25-22. The Tigers never trailed in the set, but had to fend off a late Ithaca run, as the Bombers rallied from 19-15 down to tie the match at 21-21. The Tigers would take advantage of two Ithaca service errors and an attack error sandwiched around a clutch kill from Taylor to win the set.
RIT jumped out to a 10-4 lead in set two before Ithaca came roaring back. The Bombers scored five straight points to cut the RIT lead to 10-9. RIT would maintain its lead, going up 18-15 before Ithaca made a decisive run, scoring 10 of the final 11 points to win the set, 25-19 and even the match.
In set three, Ithaca led from the outset before RIT took a brief 10-9 lead. The Bombers would push forward and take control, going on a 9-2 run to build an insurmountable lead and win the set, 25-20.
The Tigers would try to force a fifth and decisive set, but Ithaca was too strong in set four. The Bombers used an early run and keep the Tigers at bay to close out the match, 25-21.
"I felt this was another great opportunity to see where we stood in the Liberty League," said RIT head coach
Jim Lodes. "Ithaca responded very well to their set one loss and turned up the pressure. We had stretches where we responded but this was probably the most uncomfortable we've been in a match in some time. We will learn from this as we move towards competing at the next level. Overall, I am proud of our effort."
Ithaca out-scored RIT, 74-51 and held a 61-41 edge in kills. Digs were nearly even, as Ithaca held a slight 54-53 edge. The Bombers also hit .265 in the match to .187 for RIT.
The all-time series between the two schools is now knotted at 41-41.
RIT's 15-match winning streak was the longest since the 1992 season. Before tonight, the Tigers last lost on Sept. 1 during the opening weekend of the regular season.
RIT returns to action this weekend to host the 30th Annual RIT Volleyball Invitational. The Tigers host Nazareth College at 5 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 12 and take on Alfred University (11 a.m.) and Buffalo State College (3 p.m.) on Saturday, Oct. 13.
