CORTLAND, NY – The RIT volleyball team (14-2) continued its incredible start to the 2018 season, earning wins over Cortland State (7-11) and Morrisville State (12-5) on day two of the Red Dragon Invitational, hosted by Cortland on Saturday. RIT has now won 12 straight matches, its longest winning streak since 1993.
 
RIT opened the day with a four-set win over host Cortland. RIT won set one, 26-24 before Cortland responded with a 25-18 win in set two. The Tigers took control of the match with a resounding 25-9 win in set three and closed out the Red Dragons in the fourth set, 25-20.
 
The Tigers slammed 55 kills and hit .230 in the match and had 55 digs to 44 for the Red Dragons. Cortland stayed in the match on the strength of 12 blocks.
 
Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) led RIT on both ends of the floor, slamming a season-high 19 kills, while hitting .333 to go along with 13 digs. Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) had 12 kills, 10 digs and two service aces, while Kelly Waters (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) had eight kills and four blocks and Kelly Fellner (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) chipped in with three kills. Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) hit .500 with six kills in addition to a match-high 40 assists and nine digs. Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) added a match-high 14 digs defensively.
 
Bridgette Moran and Nadia Moore led the Red Dragons with 10 kills apiece. Moran added six blocks. Gabby Amelio had 36 assists and 10 digs, while Mailey Bowen added 13 digs.
 
"Our energy was really good in sets three and four," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "We like when our team has that energy and confidence. This was a very good road win against Cortland."
 
The Tigers extended their winning streak with a 25-19, 25-20, 25-23 victory over Morrisville State. RIT hit .302 in the match with 52 kills and 50 digs. The Tigers had 20 kills in each of the last two sets.
 
Higgins led the way with 14 kills and 12 digs, while Taylor had 12 kills and 11 digs. RIT's middle hitting duo of Waters and Shelby Doheny (Moreau, NY/South Glens Falls) was remarkably efficient, combining to hit .714 with 16 kills in just 21 attempts. Both players had eight kills, while Waters added three blocks. Daly recorded 11 digs, while Parkinson hit .500 with five kills and 45 service aces. Kirstie Wehler (Saint Marys, PA/Elk County Catholic) recorded five kills.
 
Kirsten Florio hit .500 with 10 kills for Morrisville, while Kim Dunkleman recorded 16 assists and Sam Wolf added 10 digs.
 
"We played very well against a determined Morrisville team," said Lodes. "We are still maintaining our momentum towards upcoming matches against Medaille and Liberty League play next week."
 
Last night, RIT defeated Wilkes University in four sets.
 
RIT will look to match its longest win streak in a quarter century on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. with a home contest against Medaille College.