ROCHESTER, N.Y. – RIT sophomore outside hitter Liv Benard logged a match-high 16 kills and a .484 attack percentage to lead the Tigers to a 3-0 (25-17, 25-6, 25-18) Liberty League sweep of visiting Vassar, Saturday.
 
RIT clinched the fourth seed for the Liberty League Tournament and will host a to-be-determined fifth-seed in a quarterfinal match on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at a time to be announced.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• RIT trailed, 8-6, early in the first set but put together a 5-1 run to take an 11-9 lead. The Brewers tied the score with two-straight points, but the Tigers responded with a 10-2 run for a 21-14 lead they would not relinquish.
• RIT started the second set with 11-consecutive points on the serve of sophomore defensive specialist Corie Beale. Later leading, 16-4, the Tigers closed the set winning nine of the final 11 points.
• RIT started the third on a 10-2 run, including eight-consecutive points, before extending to a 16-8 lead. Vassar put together a 7-3 run to pull within four, 19-15, but got no closer as the Tigers won six of the final eight points to close the win. 

MATCH NOTES

• Junior setter Sydney Neff compiled 38 assists while directing RIT to a .330 attack percentage.
• Grad Student middle blocker Calista Gasper, who was recognized during a Senior Day ceremony prior to the match, collected eight kills on .417 hitting along with five assisted blocks. 

WHAT'S NEXT
RIT completes the regular season next weekend with three matches at Skidmore. The Tigers will close the conference portion of the schedule opposite the Thoroughbreds on Friday (Oct. 28) at 4:00 p.m. before taking on Plattsburgh (10:00 a.m) and Alfred (2:00 p.m.) on Saturday (Oct. 29).