The SUNY Potsdam volleyball team dropped a pair of matches Friday at the 22nd annual Rochester Institute of Technology Invitational in Rochester, N.Y.

The Bears (3-8) were defeated by Brockport 25-16, 25-21, 25-21, after being edged earlier in the afternoon by Rochester 25-18, 25-21, 26-24.

Potsdam was on the brink in each match, even leading Rochester 18-17 with serve in the first set.

"They were all very tight sets, even the ones where the scores don't look close," Bears coach Steve Pike said. "We're battling tough, but just not finishing each set at this point. We are getting contributions from up and down the roster, which is a good sign."

Against Rochester, freshman Annie Smith (Burke, N.Y.) and junior Sam Strader (Watertown, N.Y.) led the offense with eight kills apiece. Smith also finished with three service aces, and freshman Brittany Lapham (West Chazy, N.Y.) registered 11 assists. Defensively, senior captain Erica Romaniello (Selden, N.Y.) totaled 12 digs while sophomore Anne Fildes (Red Hook, N.Y.) posted two blocks.

Smith, the team's kills leader, paced the offense in the Brockport match with 10 kills. Strader tallied six kills and three aces, while Romaniello picked up 13 digs. Freshman Jenna Blujus (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) had eight assists.

Potsdam continues tournament play tomorrow against Nazareth at 12 p.m. The team will compete in another match at either 3 or 5 p.m.