ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT sophomore outside hitter Liv Benard totaled 17 kills and 11 digs, but it was visiting William Smith earning a 3-1 (21-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-20) victory in Liberty League action, Wednesday.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• RIT led, 7-4, early in the first set before William Smith came back to take a 9-8 lead. Trailing, 12-11, The Tigers put together a 7-1 run for an 18-13 lead. The Herons scored a 7-2 run to knot the score, 20-20, but RIT scored five of the final six points to take the opener.
• William Smith opened the second set with a 9-5 run, before two Tiger kills trimmed the deficit to two. The Herons rode a decisive 9-1 run to an 18-8 lead they would not relinquish.
• RIT built an early 5-2, third-set lead before William Smith rebounded to take an 8-6 edge. The Tigers used a 9-3 run to take a 15-11 lead and moved in front, 19-16, before the Herons scored nine of the final 11 points to earn the comeback win.
• William Smith jumped out to a 13-8 lead in the fourth, before RIT scored four-consecutive points to start a 7-2 run which tied the score, 15-15. Later tied, 20-20, the Herons finished the match with five unanswered points to clinch the win. 

MATCH NOTES

• Junior setter Sydney Neff compiled 27 assists, 10 digs and four assisted blocks.
• Sophomore outside hitter Samantha Cox added nined kills and four digs
• Junior defensive specialist Hailey Blixt chipped in 15 digs. 

WHAT'S NEXT
RIT hosts the Brick City Invitational this Friday and Saturday (Oct. 14-15), kicking things off with matches versus St. John Fisher (4:30 p.m.) and Clark (7:00 p.m.) on Friday.