LATROBE, Pa. – RIT started the season with two victories on the first day of the Bearcat Challenge, Friday evening. The Tigers swept Waynsburg, 3-0 (25-22, 25-19, 26-24) before holding on for a 3-2 (25-22, 24-26, 25-22, 18-25, 15-5) victory over host Saint Vincent.
 
RIT 3, WAYNESBURG, 0 (25-22, 25-19, 26-24)

• First-year Anna Wasula logged a team-high 13 kills to go along with seven digs in her first action in a Tiger uniform.
• Junior Sara Wild recorded 31 assists and seven digs in her first collegiate start. 
• Junior Jada Lee led the defense with 14 digs, while first-year Isabel Leon posted a team-high 5 blocks (all solo) in her Tiger debut. 
• RIT scored four-straight points to take a 7-5 lead early in the first set, but Waynesburg bounced back with a 6-2 run for an 11-9 lead. Waynesburg later led, 17-14, before the Tigers rode a 10-3 surge to set point, 24-20, and the opening set three points later.
• RIT overcame an early 9-2 deficit in the second set with a 13-4 run for a 15-13 lead. Waynesburg answered with a 6-3 run, including four-unanswered points for a 19-18 edge. RIT closed the set with seven unanswered points, including three kills by junior Mia Gerber, for a two-set lead.
• A tight third set saw RIT break an 11-11 tie with a 6-2 run to build a 17-13 lead, but Waynesburg bounced back with a 9-3 run to take a 22-20 edge. Waynesburg committed a pair of errors, but then scored two of the next three points to force a set point, 24-23. The Tigers scored the final three points of the match on kills by Wasula and first-year Sofia Leon, before a Waynesburg attack error sealed the Tiger win. 

RIT, 3 SAINT VINCENT 2 (25-22, 24-26, 25-22, 18-25, 15-5)

• Wasula notched a match-high 20 kills while junior Macie Jolliffe added 14 kills to lead the attack.
• Wild compiled her first collegiate double-double with 37 assists and 13 digs.
• Sofia Leon was also credited with 10 kills and 12 digs for her first double-double.
• RIT opened an early 10-8 lead in the first, but surrendered an 8-2 Bearcat run to trail, 16-12. The Tigers scored five-straight points to start a 6-1 run for an 18-17 lead, but Saint Vincent retook a 20-18 lead with three unanswered. Trailing 22-21, RIT closed the set with four unanswered points, including two service aces by first-year Isabelle Swain and a final kill by Wasula to take the opener.
• RIT fell behind, 11-4, in the second, but clawed back to eventually take a 20-19 lead. The Tigers later had a swing at set point leading 24-23, but the Bearcats scored three straight points to even the match.
• Tied, 10-10, in the third, RIT took a 13-11 lead it would not relinquish. Saint Vincent came back to tie the score four times, including 19-19, but RIT eventually scored three of the final four points to earn the win.
• RIT fell behind, 12-7, to start the fourth, before battling back within one, 13-12, with a 5-1 run. Saint Vincent scored the next four points for a 17-12 edge, but the Tigers got back within two, 18-16. The Bearcats then scored five-straight points to finish the set on a 7-2 run to force a deciding fifth.
• Leading, 5-3, to start the fifth, RIT rode an 8-0 run, led by three Jolliffe kills, to a 13-3 lead that proved decisive.    

WHAT'S NEXT 
RIT continues play at the Bearcat Challenge on Saturday with matches against Carlow (10:00 a.m.) and Westminster (2:00 p.m.).