LATROBE, Pa. – The RIT Women's Volleyball team split two matches on the first day of the Saint Vincent Bearcat Challenge, Friday. The Tigers followed up a tough five-set loss to Westminster with a 3-1 win over the host Bearcats.
WESTMINSTER, 3, RIT 2 (25-18, 22-25, 27-29, 25-23, 17-15)
RIT LEADERS
KILLS:
Anna Wasula 17,
Stella Appen 17 (career-high)
DIGS:
Isabelle Swain 18,
Isabel Leon 16,
Fallon Mitchell 15
ASSISTS: Leon 40
ACES: Swain 4,
Zoey Brasier 3
- RIT held an early 4-2 in the first, but Westminster responded with a 9-2 run for an 11-6 lead. The Tigers scored the next five points, including a pair of service aces by first-year Zoey Brasier, to tied the set, 11-11. The Titans bounced back with a 7-1 surge for an 18-12 lead and later took a 22-15 edge that proved insurmountable.
- In the second, Westminster used a 7-0 run to build a 13-5 lead, but RIT responded with a 7-1 surge to pull within two, 14-12. Later trailing, 20-16, the Tigers scored six-unanswered points to kick off a 9-2 run to finish the set and earn the comeback victory.
- In the third, Westminster turned a one-point lead into a 16-10 edge following a 5-0 run, but RIT battled back within one, 17-16, after a 6-1 surge led by three kills from sophomore Anna Wasula. Westminster later had two shots at the set leading 24-22, but the Tigers took advantage of three straight Titan errors to pull ahead, 25-24. Later tied, 27-27, a solo block by Brasier and a kill by first-year Fallon Mitchell clinched the set for RIT.
- Tied, 12-12, in the fourth, Westminster pushed ahead, 15-12, with three-straight points and later rode a 5-0 run to a 22-16 lead. The Tigers came back with a 5-1 run for a 23-21 deficit, but the Titans held on for the two-point win to force the deciding fifth.
- RIT trailed, 5-2, to start the final set, but rode a 6-1 run, including two Wasula kills, to an 8-6 lead. The Tigers led, 10-8, and 12-10, before Westminster scored four of the next five points to lead, 14-13. RIT came back to tie the score twice, including 15-15, but the Titans put the match away with the final two points.
RIT 3, ST. VINCENT 1 (27-25, 19-25, 25-20, 25-21)
RIT LEADERS
KILLS: Wasula 19, Appen/Sims 9
DIGS: Swain 18, Mitchell 15, Leon 13, Wasula 11
ASSISTS: Leon 37
ACES: Swain 3
- Tied, 12-12, in the first, St. Vincent put together an 8-0 for a 20-12 lead. RIT responded with a 10-2 run to knot the score, 22-22. Tied, 24-24, the Bearcats moved ahead on a Tiger attack error, but back-to-back blocks by Mitchell and Appen followed by a St. Vincent attack error gave RIT the opening set.
- The Bearcats used a 5-0 run to build an early 9-3 lead in the second. RIT pulled back within four, 12-8, but St. Vincent scored the next six points for an 18-8 lead. Trailing, 21-11, the Tigers rode a 9-3 surge back within five, 24-19, before the Bearcats put the set away.
- Tied, 9-9, in the third, RIT used a 7-1 run to take a 16-10 lead. The Bearcats got as close as three on two occasions, including 20-17, but the Tigers won five of the final eight points to earn the victory.
- St. Vincent opened an early 7-4 lead in the fourth, but RIT bounced back with a 7-3 run to lead, 11-10. The Bearcats retook a 13-12 edge, but the Tigers put together a 7-4 surge to lead 19-17. St. Vincent battled moved back ahead, 20-19, but RIT scored six of the final seven points to put the match away.
WHAT'S NEXT
RIT continues play at the Bearcat Challenge on Saturday, facing Bethany at 2:00 p.m. and Grove City at 4:00 p.m.
