ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT senior outside hitter Katie Hobler notched a match-high 20 kills while senior outside hitter Taylor Higgins added 19 kills, 14 digs and five service aces to lead the Tigers to a 3-1 (25-20, 22-25, 25-19, 25-19) victory over visiting Ithaca, Wednesday, in Liberty League women's volleyball action.
 
RIT (17-2, 5-0 LL) took sole possession of first place in the Liberty League standings while winning its ninth-consecutive match.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Ithaca opened a 10-6 first-set lead before a Hobler kill kicked off a 5-1 Tiger run that tied the score, 11-11. The Bombers re-took a 14-12 lead, but RIT responded with 10-straight points, including two Higgins service aces and three Hobler kills, to forge a 22-14 lead it would not relinquish.
• RIT made up an early 9-5 second set deficit to pull within one, 11-10, but Ithaca responded with a 6-0 run for a 17-10 lead en route to evening the match.
•  The Tigers opened a quick 9-3 third-set lead that grew to seven points, 18-11. Ithaca only got as close as five, 22-17, down the stretch as RIT moved on to a 2-1 lead.
• Ithaca broke a 10-10 score with a 4-0 run in the fourth, but RIT responded with a decisive 10-2 push capped by six-straight points to forge a 20-16 lead. The Bombers pulled back within two, 20-18, but the Tigers scored five of the final six points to put the match away. 

MATCH NOTES

• Hobler finished the match with a .396 hitting percentage, only making one attack error on 48 total swings.
• Senior Kiana Walker logged a match-high 21 digs.
• Freshman setter Sydney Neff compiled 45 assists.
• RIT was credited with 13 total service aces, including four by freshman defensive specialist Hailey Blixt. 

WHAT'S NEXT
RIT host St. John Fisher on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The Tigers will recognize three players – Hobler, Higgins and Walker – in a pregame Senior Day ceremony.