SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY – Make it 15 consecutive wins for the RIT volleyball team (17-2, 4-0 Liberty League), as they earned a 25-17, 25-22, 25-22 win at Liberty League rival Skidmore College (14-7, 2-3 Liberty League) at the Williamson Sports Center on Saturday afternoon.
 
RIT continued its excellent play on both sides of the ball, hitting .292 with 45 kills, nine service aces and 46 digs.
 
Freshman outside hitter Katie Hobler (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy), who had 20 kills in last night's win at Union, added 18 more in three sets this afternoon, while hitting .429. Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) added 10 kills and seven digs, while Shelby Doheny (Moreau, NY/South Glens Falls) hit a remarkable .727 with eight kills in just 11 attempts. Senior setter Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) dished out 39 assists, while Maria Simonetti (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) had a match-high 15 digs. Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) chipped in with seven digs and a career-high five service aces.
 
The Tigers came out with authority in the opening set, scoring eight of the first nine points to grab a lead they would relinquish on their way to a 25-17 victory. Overall, RIT hit .314 with 18 kills and two service aces in the set.
 
Skidmore grabbed a 5-1 lead in set two, before RIT chipped away and took an 8-7 lead. The two teams would battle back and forth before RIT grabbed a 17-13 edge. Skidmore would rally and take a 19-18 lead, before the Tigers would grab the momentum with four straight points, including three consecutive service aces from Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) to go up 22-19. Skidmore would cut the lead to 23-22 before a Thoroughbreds service error and kill from Hobler put the set away for RIT.
 
In set three, the Tigers looked to leave no doubt right away, jumping out to leads of 8-1 and 15-5 before Skidmore came charging back, eventually tying the match at 21-21. Like set two, RIT proved to be too tough, scoring four of the final five points to take the set and secure the win.
 
"We found a way to win another tough Liberty League road match," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "I am impressed with how we have been handling ourselves against quality opponents and adversity. Skidmore is relentless and I thought we stayed in the moment well."
 
Catie Canfield led Skidmore with 13 kills, nine digs and two blocks, while hitting .522. Lauren Wolters added 25 assists and Allie Dillon recorded 11 digs.
 
RIT is right back in action at 7 p.m. on Wednesday with a showdown at Liberty League co-leader Ithaca College, who is ranked No. 19 in the current American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III national poll. Next weekend, the Tigers host the 2018 RIT Invitational on Friday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 13.