ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT split a pair of matches on the second day of the Woodcliff Hall of Fame Invitational, hosted by Nazareth. The Tigers dropped a 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-18), decision to Juniata before bouncing back with a 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-11) victory over Morrisville.
RIT 3, Morrisville 0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-11)
- Senior outside hitter Katie Hobler (Rochester, NY/Our Lady of Mercy) totaled 15 kills and six digs
- Freshman setter Sydney Neff (Delmar, NY/Academy of the Holy Names) added 30 assists while picking up five digs.
- Senior libero Kiana Walker (Lloydminster, Alberta/Lloydminster Comprehensive) compiled a team-high 15 digs and five service aces.
- The Tigers jumped out to an early 7-1 lead in the first set before breaking open a 13-9 game with a decisive 9-1 run to put the first set out of reach.
- RIT led, 16-13, in the second set before the Mustangs used a 7-1 push to take a 20-17 lead. RIT scored three-straight points to knot the game, 20-20, before breaking a 23-23 tie with two points, including a Hobler kill, to take the set.
- The Tigers opened a 10-2 lead which ballooned to as many as 12 down the stretch to finish the afternoon.
Juniata 3, RIT 0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-18)
- Tied, 5-5, in the first set, Juniata scored five of the next six points to build a 10-6 lead. RIT scored a point on an Eagle service error, but surrendered nine of the next 10 points to fall into a 19-8 hole which proved insurmountable.
- Juniata pulled out to a 9-3 lead in the second before RIT came back within three, 14-11. Leading, 17-14, the Eagles opened a six-point lead, 22-16, to put the set out of reach.
- Juniata broke open a close 13-10 lead in the third with a decisive 8-1 run en route to the sweep.
- Senior outside hitter Taylor Higgins (Peru, NY/Peru) led the way with seven kills while Hobler totaled six.
- Senior setter Brianna Ellis (Wayne, PA/Radnor) was credited with 16 assists and five digs.
- Walker totaled a team-high eight digs.
Hobler and Higgins were named to the All-Tournament team for leading the Tigers to a 2-1 record at the tournament, including a 3-0 (27-25, 25-11, 25-17) victory over Fredonia on Friday.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT hosts Rochester on Wednesday (Sept. 22) at 6:00 p.m. before opening Liberty League play on Friday (Sept. 24) with visiting Clarkson at 4:00 p.m.