ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The RIT Women's Volleyball team earned a pair of home victories on Saturday at Clark Gymnasium, opening the day with a three-set sweep (25-22, 25-14, 25-21) over Liberty League opponent Bard before outlasting Fredonia in a five-set thriller, 3-2 (32-30, 25-17, 24-26, 23-25, 15-12).
RIT 3, Bard 0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-21)
RIT Leaders
Kills:
Layla Parker 11,
Stella Appen-Lippard 10
Digs:
Isabelle Swain 13,
Layla Parker 12
Assists:
Isabel Leon 25,
Olivia Colling 8
Service Aces:
Allison Walton 3,
Layla Parker 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In set one, Bard took an early 7-4 lead before RIT responded with a 5-0 run behind serves from first-year Layla Parker.
- Bard countered with three service aces from Isis Pribble to take a 16-11 advantage.
- Trailing 19-15, the Tigers staged a 5-0 rally with sophomore Isabelle Swain serving to tie the set at 20-20.
- Tied at 22-22, RIT won the final three points with kills from sophomores Anna Wasula, Zoey Brasier, and Stella Appen-Lippard.
- RIT gained control early in set two, taking a 3-0 lead capped by a service ace from sophomore Allison Walton.
- The Tigers extended their cushion to 15-7 with strong net play from sophomore Anaiyah Sims and Appen-Lippard.
- RIT closed set two on a 5-0 surge, featuring an ace from Parker and a combined block by first-year Erin Lock and Appen to take a 25-14 victory.
- Bard built a 12-6 advantage in set three before RIT mounted a comeback.
- The Tigers erased the deficit and leveled the frame at 15-15 on a Walton service ace.
- RIT finished the sweep on a joint block by Lock and Wasula to win the set 25-21.
RIT 3, Fredonia 2 (32-30, 25-17, 24-26, 23-25, 15-12)
RIT Leaders
Kills:
Layla Parker 22,
Anna Wasula 18,
Stella Appen-Lippard 11
Digs:
Isabelle Swain 26,
Isabel Leon 20,
Stella Appen-Lippard 19
Assists:
Isabel Leon 50 (career-high)
Service Aces:
Allison Walton 3,
Isabelle Swain 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Set one featured 16 ties and 11 lead changes in a marathon opening battle.
- Trailing 11-6 early, RIT mounted a 7-2 run to tie the set at 13-13 on a kill by Parker.
- First-year Avery Cavallaro landed a service ace to give RIT a 21-20 advantage.
- After exchanging set points past the 24-point mark, RIT claimed the frame 32-30 on back-to-back kills from Wasula and Sims.
- RIT hit .400 as a team in set two, opening up a 15-9 lead behind three kills from Sims.
- The Tigers maintained control and closed out the set on a run capped by an Appen-Lippar kill and ace, before a combined block by Leon and Sims to win 25-17.
- In set three, RIT built a 15-6 lead following a 6-0 surge behind three kills from Wasula.
- RIT held a 22-14 lead before Fredonia answered with a 8-0 run to tie the score at 22-22.
- Fredonia won the final three points to steal the frame 26-24.
- Fredonia led set four 11-4 before RIT responded with a 7-1 surge, pulling within 12-11 on back-to-back Walton aces.
- The frame remained tight until Fredonia captured the final two points at 23-23 to win 25-23 and force a deciding fifth set.
- In set five, RIT jumped out to a 4-1 lead behind kills from Parker and Lock and a Swain service ace.
- After Fredonia rallied to tie the set at 12-12, RIT closed the match on a 3-0 run with consecutive kills from Parker and Appen, followed by a Fredonia attack error to secure the 15-12 set and match victory.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT visits Ithaca in a mid-week match on Wednesday (Sept. 30) at 6 p.m.
