KEUKA PARK, N.Y. — The Keuka College Women's Volleyball team started the 2026 season strong, taking the first set over the Rochester Institute of Technology at the JMW Recreation and Athletics Center on Tuesday, but the Tigers rallied to win the next three sets to defeat Keuka College 3-1.
Senior
Nina Scott led Keuka College (0-1) with 13 kills in the match. Alessandra Castañeda added nine kills to go with her 12 digs.
Gabby Rodriguez led the defensive efforts with 15 digs in the loss.
RIT 3 at Keuka College 1 – 23-25, 27-25, 25-11, 25-20
The Wolves jumped out to a fast start to the season with a 5-0 lead in the first set. An ace by Meghan Knott gave the Green and Gold an 8-2 advantage. The Tigers rallied to tighten the margin, but back-to-back aces by Castañeda pushed the advantage back to 15-9. RIT staved off three Keuka set points and drew the margin down to one, but the Wolves got an attack error from the Tigers to end the first set 25-23.
The second set was close to start with neither team leading by more than two points. The Green and Gold got a three-point run to take a 20-16 edge over the Tigers, but RIT responded and matched the 3-0 run to cut the Keuka lead back to one. Two kills by
Nina Scott gave the Wolves a 23-20 lead, however, RIT scored four straight to force set point. The Wolves tied the match at 24-24 and took the lead to get a set point of their own, but RIT got a pair of kills and an ace to swing the second set in their favor 27-25, leveling the match.
The Tigers were all over the Wolves in the third set. The visitors scored the final nine points of the frame to take a 2-1 lead in the match.
After a close start in the fourth, RIT scored six straight to establish a 10-5 advantage. First-year
Gianna Falleti got a kill to stop the run. The Wolves battled to stay in the fight with four straight points to cut the Tiger lead to one at 14-13. Unfortunately for Keuka, RIT scored five of the next six points to take hold of the set. The Tigers closed out the fourth 25-20 to win the match 3-1.
KC Notes:
- The Wolves are now 1-23 all-time against the Rochester Institute of Technology
- Keuka College is an even 13-13 in their season-opening matches since the 2000 season
- Summer Elza finished with 14 assists for the Wolves and Phoebe Swartz was one behind her with 13
- Alessandra Castañeda added a team-high three aces for the Wolves
- Gianna Falleti finished with seven kills in her first collegiate match
- First-year Kayla Linderman had three blocks, including a pair of solo, in her first match.
Up Next for Keuka College: The Wolves will remain at home this weekend as they host the Keuka College Invitational. On Friday, Keuka College will face Marywood and La Roche. The Wolves will then host Keystone College and Hilbert on Saturday to conclude the invitational.
