Rochester, NY - Senior
Maura McAusland became the first player since Devan Gallagher in 2017 to break the 1,000 kills milestone and senior
Erin Lovett buried a career-high 19 kills to help lead the Vassar College Women's Volleyball team to a thrilling 20-25, 20-25, 29-27, 25-17, 15-9 reverse sweep victory against RIT in the Liberty League opener on Friday evening. Vassar's record improves to 6-5 overall and 1-0 in conference action while the Tigers drop to 3-9 on the season and 0-1 in Liberty League play.
First Set
- RIT soared to a 10-1 lead to begin the first set behind three aces from Isabel Leon and two kills apiece from Layla Parker and Anna Wasula.
- Vassar cut the lead down to 12-9 after two kills and an ace from junior Eleanor Gegen and a block from first year Gina O'Connell and Lovett.
- The Tigers built the lead to 16-10 until VC got back within two at 17-15 on a kill eah from Lovett, sophomore Elena Feuer and McAusland.
- RIT expanded the advantage to 21-17 behind two winners from Parker but the Brewers cut the deficit to two once again on a block from O'Connell and Medrano.
- RIT collected four of the final five points of the set as Parker's ace clinched the opening set victory.
Second Set
- The second set went back and forth as RIT was the first to pull ahead 18-15 on a kill from Anaiyah Sims.
- Vassar got back within a point at 18-17 on a kill from McAusland and a block from Medrano and Feuer.
- The Tigers expanded its lead to 22-18 behind two kills from Wasula and a block from Mia Gerber and Sims.
- A kill from McAusland and a block from Feuer and Lovett reduced the advantage to 22-20 but two Wasula kills and a Leon ace put the Tigers ahead 2-0.
Third Set
- RIT earned a 9-2 lead as Wasula notched two kills and three aces to push the Tigers ahead.
- Vassar battled back to get within 11-9 as Medrano, Feuer, McAusland and O'Connell each contributed to block assists and senior T Petro added an ace.
- McAusland's kill and ace along with a Lovett winner helped the Brewers cut the lead to 14-13.
- The Brewers clawed all the way back to take a 20-19 lead on a block from Medrano and O'Connell before the Tigers pulled back ahead 24-21 on an ace each from Allison Walton and Parker.
- Vassar fought off five match points (24-21, 24-22, 24-23, 25-24 and 26-25) to eventually take the set 29-27 behind consecutive kills from Lovett and senior Holland Kaplan.
Fourth Set
- Vassar and RIT traded points throughout the fourth set as Vassar took a 13-11 lead following consecutive kills from McAusland, including her 1,000th career kill.
- RIT gained a 15-14 lead on a Wasula kill until VC reeled off eight straight points, led by three Lovett kills, an ace from first year Riley Huang and blocks from O'Connell and Lovett, to score a 22-15 lead.
- The Tigers reduced the lead to 24-17 on winners from Gerber and Parker.
- Vassar pushed the match to a deciding fifth set on a kill from Kaplan to take the 25-17 set victory.
Fifth Set
- VC scored the first five points of the final set as Medrano landed two aces, McAusland buried two winners and Lovett added a kill.
- The lead grew to 8-2 on back-to-back Kaplan kills and VC took a 11-4 advantage on an ace from first year Sophia Ierulli and a kill from O'Connell.
- RIT fought off three match points, led by two kills from Sims, before a service error completed the five-set reverse sweep victory for Vassar.
For The Brewers
- Lovett notched a career-high 19 kills (.421), five blocks (one solo) and three digs while McAusland collected 17 kills, including her 1,000th career kill, and eight digs.
- Medrano totaled a career-high tying 50 assists, four aces, five blocks and 15 digs along with Kaplan registering eight kills and 11 digs.
- O'Connell finished with five kills and five blocks while Feuer recorded three kills and eight blocks (two solo).
- Huang lifted 15 digs while Ierulli and Petro each landed two aces.
For The Tigers
- Wasula buried a match-high 25 kills, three aces and 12 digs while Parker finished with 11 kills, three aces, two blocks and nine digs.
- Sims totaled seven kills, four blocks (two solo) and two digs along with Gerber adding six kills.
- Leon garnered 43 assists, seven aces, five blocks (one solo) and 13 digs while Brasier added five blocks.
- Isabelle Swain lifted 12 digs and added two aces while Walton recorded 11 digs and an ace.
Up Next
- Vassar continues its road trip tomorrow afternoon against William Smith at 2:00 p.m.
- RIT plays host to Bard at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow.
