It’s a nice, sunny fall afternoon in October. You know that you don’t want to stay inside, but you don’t know what to do outside. It’s too early for a haunted hay ride, going apple picking is too much hard work, and RIT’s powerhouse football season hasn’t quite started up yet. Why not throw on your (free) Tiger Den T-shirt and orange fro and bring all the school spirit you can muster to support one of the varsity fall sports?

Tom Liggett

Women’s Tennis

In a preseason poll, the Empire 8 chose RIT to finish third in the conference behind Ithaca and Stevens Institute of Technology. The season opener, however, showed how polls don’t translate into an actual season when RIT won 5-4 in their face-off with Stevens on RIT’s courts. Sophomore Photojournalism major Amanda Berg was named the Empire 8 Women’s Tennis Player of the Week in her first season since her transfer from the College of New Jersey. Coach Krystina Bachner has a great deal of talent to work with as a majority of the team returns from last season and seeks to compete into the postseason. RIT will be playing Ithaca College at 1 p.m. at the RIT tennis courts on September 13.

Tom Liggett

Cross Country

Both the men and women of RIT’s cross country team are gearing up for their first invitational on September 13, with high performance expectations in mind. With many of the athletes on both teams having previous collegiate experience, Head Coach Dave Warth has a committed team, ready to put the work in to excel in their conference and at the sport.

Tom Liggett

Women’s Volleyball

Coming off of last year’s postseason at the NCAA tournament, RIT’s volleyball team was chosen second in the Empire 8 conference in the preseason poll. A somewhat frustrating early season of no wins and four losses, however, has tested the athletes’ resolve to earn a repeat berth in the NCAA postseason. The volleyball team will most likely fight their way back with teamwork, dedication, and the leadership of upperclassmen and Head Coach Roger Worsley. Both 2007 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) All-New York Region team picks Jessica Schaffer (a Senior Chemical Engineer) and Nicole Boxler (a Senior International Buiness student) have returned this year. Schaffer, unfortunately, had a wrist injury early on, and will likely be sitting out the season. Despite that, the RIT Invitational in Clark Gym on September 12-13 will certainly be a great opportunity to cheer on the Tigers.

Tom Liggett

Women’s Soccer

With several new athletes joining the team, the women’s soccer team has great potential for an eighth consecutive year of postseason play, provided they continue to work together. Civil Engineering Senior Emily Traversi comes off of a strong season last year, with such recognitions as being named to the 2007 All-New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Team and earning 2007 COSIDA ESPN The Magazine Academic All- Region 1 third team honors. Traversi is the first RIT student to ever earn this honor. Returning with 2007 All-Empire 8 honors is Traversi and fellow Seniors Danielle LaFrance, an Elect r ical Eng ineer ing Technology student, and Erica Main, an Interior Design student. Come cheer for the team as they take on St. John Fisher at the RIT Field at 4 p.m. on September 17.

Men’s Soccer

The team continues to play with great teamwork and grit as they begin their climb towards the Empire 8 conference title behind head coach Bill Garno. At the time of writing this article, the team had a record of one win and one loss; considering that the loss was against a nationally-ranked team and the win was a 7-0 shutout, it looks like they’ve got a strong season ahead of them. In addition to a good balance of experienced veteran and talented rookie players, Coach Garno has two returning 2007 All-Empire 8 selections in Electrical Engineering Senior Chris Somers and New Media Junior Jeff Diaz, who will both provide leadership on the field. They will continue their season against Skidmore at 3 p.m. at the RIT soccer field in front of the Gordon Field House on September 20.