NASHUA, NH – The RIT volleyball team (6-2) recorded a pair of three-set victories at the Granite State Challenge hosted by Keene State College on Saturday afternoon. RIT defeated Plymouth State University (6-2) and Elmira College (1-3) to wrap up a 4-0 weekend.
 
The Tigers rolled in the win over Plymouth State by scores of 25-28, 25-9, 25-21. RIT hit .272 and had 13 service aces in the match.
 
Freshman Katie Hobler (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) led the way offensively, hitting .357 with 13 kills. Shelby Doheny (Moreau, NY/South Glens Falls) hit a robust .778, slamming seven kills in just nine attempts to go along with a pair of blocks. Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) added 10 digs, seven kills, three service aces and two blocks.
 
Erin Parkinson (Carrollton, TX/W.T. White) led the Tigers with 27 assists, while Maria Simonetti (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) had team-high totals of 11 digs and four service aces. Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) added five digs and three service aces. Caroline Brodt (Barnstable, MA/Barnstable) added three assists and one kill in her collegiate debut.
 
"Our defensive intensity was closer to the standard the we expect," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "It enabled us to play well with many players contributing. I was pleased with our performance."
 
Against Elmira, RIT rolled in the opening set, winning 25-14 before needing extra time to take set two, 26-24. The Tigers capped off a perfect weekend by cruising to a 25-9 win in the third and final set.
 
RIT hit a season-best .351 in the match and recorded totals of 11 service aces and 10.5 blocks.
 
Sara Taylor (Tonawanda, NY/Kenmore East) hit .526 in the match with a team-best total of 11 kills, while Hobler added eight kills, seven digs, four solo blocks and four service aces. Kelly Waters (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) slammed six kills in just eight attempts for a .750 hitting percentage, while Higgins had seven kills and a team-best five service aces. Parkinson added 27 assists for the second straight match to go along with eight digs.
 
Defensively, Simonetti had a team-best nine digs, while dishing out three assists, while Doheny had three blocks. Brianna Ellis (Wayne, PA/Radnor) added three assists.

"We had stretches in this match of being very good," said Lodes. "When we limit our unforced errors, we can be a difficult team to play against. In sets one and three we really moved well defensively and controlled the tempo of play. We had a strong finish to a good team weekend."
 
Last night, RIT rallied to defeat Rivier College in five sets and Keene State in four sets to kick off play at the Granite State Challenge.
 
RIT returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 15 with a pair of home matches against Houghton College and Penn State Behrend from Clark Gym. RIT hosts Houghton at 11 a.m. and PSU Behrend at 3 p.m. Houghton and PSU Behrend play at 1 p.m.