CAMBRIDGE, MA -- The RIT (5-3) volleyball team lost in four hard-fought sets, 3-1 at host MIT Friday evening on day one of the MIT Invitational. Scores were 23-25, 25-27, 25-23, 10-25.

Junior Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) tallied 15 kills and 17 digs, while Katie Hobler (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) led the Tiger with 23 kills, hitting .306 for the match.Brianna Ellis (Wayne, PA/Radnor) recorded a career-high 46 assists, and senior tri-captain Maria Simonetti (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) had 15 digs.

Trailing 22-18 in the first set, RIT rattled off three straight points to pull within a point at 22-21. Later in the set, Hobler pulled the Tigers back to within one on her kill that cut the MIT lead to 24-22, .

RIT trailed 21-18 late in the second, but rallied to tie the set at 22-22. Higgins had a kill to cut he MIT lead to 21-19, and Paige Daly (Allison Park, PA/Hampton) followed that up with a service ace to make it 21-20. After an attack error by the Tigers gave the Engineers a 22-20 lead, Higgins and Hobler smashed two straight kills to tie the score at 22-22. Hobler would cut the MIT lead to 24-23 late in the set with a kill, but MIT would go on to win the set.

The Tigers rallied late to win the third set 3-1, but would fall 25-10 in the fourth set.

"We had stretches where we were playing very well against a very good MIT team," said RIT head coach Jim Lodes. "There were a few stretches in each of the first three sets where we lost just a little rhythm and gave a few unforced errors or failed to convert some of the chances we had. What we are most proud of is this team never quits. We fought hard to compete in each of the first three sets. It's exciting to coach us when we are that relentless. We are looking forward to our two matches tomorrow to again get the opportunity to compete against great competition."

RIT returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 14, versus Tufts University at 10 a.m. on day two of the MIT Invitational.