ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT senior outside hitter Katie Hobler notched a match-high 18 kills on a .452 hitting percentage to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-14) victory over Framingham State in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Tournament, Friday.
 
RIT (25-4) advances to play Wesleyan (CT) in Saturday's regional semifinal at 5:00 p.m. Juniata and Babson advanced in the day's other first-round matches and will face-off at 2:30 p.m.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• RIT opened an early 6-2 lead and led, 11-8, before the Rams scored seven-straight points to take a 15-11 edge. The Tigers responded with a 12-2 run, including three-straight Hobler kills, to build a 22-17 lead it would not relinquish.
• Tied, 11-11, in the second, RIT won eight of the next nine points, including a pair of service aces by senior libero Kiana Walker, to take a 19-12 lead. Framingham State drew back within four, 21-17, but the Tigers scored the final four points, bookended by senior middle blocker Calista Gasper kills, to build a 2-0 lead.
• RIT broke a 7-7 tie in the third set with a 6-1 surge, including two kills by senior outside hitter Taylor Higgins, to forge a 13-8 lead. The Rams pulled back within two, 14-12, but a Hobler kill kicked off a decisive 8-1 run which pushed RIT to a 22-13 lead which proved insurmountable. 

MATCH NOTES

• RIT held Framingham State to a .026 team hitting percentage.
• Higgins finished the match with nine kills while Gasper totaled eight on 13 swings without an error (.615 H%).
• Freshman setter Sydney Neff logged 42 assists and seven digs while directing the Tigers to a .313 team hitting percentage.
• Walk compiled a match-high five service aces to go along with seven digs. 

Check out the TOURNAMENT CENTRAL page for complete information about the NCAA Regional.