SCRANTON, PA – The RIT volleyball team (2-2) split a pair of matches for the second straight day at 2018 the Scranton Invitational, hosted by the University of Scranton on Saturday. RIT knocked off Hood College (1-2) in four sets before falling to Eastern University (3-0), also in four sets.
Freshman
Katie Hobler (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) was selected to the All-Tournament Team.
In Saturday's opener against Hood, RIT dropped the opening set, 25-22, before roaring back to win the final three sets by scores of 25-17, 25-21, 25-21. RIT hit a remarkable .478 in the second set and .286 in the final set to secure the win. In addition, the Tigers recorded 11.5 blocks.
Sophomore
Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) led the Tigers with 12 digs, 10 kills and four blocks. Junior middle blocker
Kelly Waters (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) hit .368 with eight kills and four blocks, including three of the solo variety.
Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) added nine kills, while Hobler had seven.
Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) recorded 10 digs and four service aces, while
Brianna Ellis (Wayne, PA/Radnor) led the way with 28 assists and four kills on just five attempts.
RIT kept up its strong play in the opening set against Eastern, rolling to a 25-19 win before Eastern took control, taking the next three sets, 25-18, 25-19, 25-14. Eastern is among teams receiving votes in the current AVCA Division III Coaches Poll.
Senior
Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) led the way offensively with 31 assists, nine digs, three service aces and three blocks, while Waters added six kills and four blocks. Higgins and Hobler recorded eight kills each, while
Shelby Doheny (Moreau, NY/South Glens Falls) had four kills. Daly had a team-best 13 digs, while Hobler also had three aces.
Yesterday, RIT opened the season by defeating the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford and falling to host Scranton.
RIT returns to action next weekend at the Granite State Challenge. On Friday, Sept. 7, RIT takes on Rivier College (4 p.m.) and Keene State University (6 p.m.) at Rivier.