Rochester continued its perfect start to the season Monday night, improving to 4-0 with a statement 2-0 sweep over Williamsville, handing the previously unbeaten and No. 7-ranked Bullets their first loss of the season.
The Rockets came out flying in the opening set, jumping out to a 13-9 lead and never letting up. Rochester continued to control the set before closing it out 25-19 in historic fashion.
With the set on the line, Peyton Zeidler recorded the 1,000th kill of her career, reaching the milestone with the kill that gave Rochester the first-set victory.
And Zeidler wasn’t finished.
The senior standout led the Rockets with 12 kills on the night while also adding 8 digs and multiple blocks, putting together a huge performance on both sides of the net.
Williamsville came out with plenty of fight in the second set and appeared ready to force a third, taking a 24-21 lead. Rochester, however, stayed locked in.
The Rockets battled back point by point, getting some fantastic serving from Izzy Saathoff and finding ways to win the crucial points late. Rochester’s team effort helped complete the comeback and finish off the sweep.
Cami Tinder was electric running the Rochester offense, finishing with 21 assists while also recording 2 aces. Tinder consistently put Rochester’s hitters in position to make plays throughout the night.
Liv Kratochvil added 5 kills and an ace, while Brooklyn Rezba also recorded an ace. Saathoff added an ace of her own as Rochester consistently applied pressure from the service line.
Defensively, Sam Kerley was everywhere. Kerley finished with a team-high 15 digs, repeatedly keeping points alive and helping Rochester withstand Williamsville’s attack.
At the net, Cami Berberet and Katie Riedle each finished with 2 blocks as the Rockets made big plays defensively when they needed them most.
Rochester Stat Leaders
- Kills: Peyton Zeidler 12, Liv Kratochvil 5
- Assists: Cami Tinder 21
- Aces: Cami Tinder 2, Brooklyn Rezba 1, Liv Kratochvil 1, Izzy Saathoff 1
- Digs: Sam Kerley 15, Peyton Zeidler 8
- Blocks: Cami Berberet 2, Katie Riedle 2
For Zeidler, the night was about much more than the individual milestone. It was about celebrating it alongside the teammates who helped her reach it.
“When I went into this season, I was looking down the barrel and I was 25 away,” Zeidler said. “I was like, man, wouldn’t it be special to get a big team like Williamsville? And I just got so lucky and so fortunate. My teammates were behind me the whole time. I could never do this without them.”
Zeidler said she has looked up to plenty of people throughout her volleyball career, including former Rochester standout Kalyn Reed, her family and her coaches.
“I look up to my parents, I look up to my family, they’re such good role models,” Zeidler said. “I look up to my coaches. I watch college volleyball all the time, and I just look at everybody and how great I could be.”
The Rockets also drew on previous experience against Williamsville, including playing the Bullets during the summer.
“When we were down, it was like, hey, we’ve done this before, we’ve been down before,” Zeidler said. “If you can hold out for 38 points, you can come back from five points.”
That confidence has carried into the 2026 season.
After making a deep run as an underdog last year, Rochester has entered this season with a different mentality — one built around expectations.
“Last year we were underdogs and we were underrated and all the things,” Zeidler said. “This year we’ve come in and we’re like, we’re expected to win and we will win.”
That mindset was on full display Monday night.
Rochester walked into a hostile Williamsville environment, faced a 7-0 Bullets team, fell behind 24-21 in the second set and still found a way to finish the job.
For Zeidler, it was a night she won’t soon forget.
For Rochester, it was another statement.
4-0. A 1,000-kill milestone. And a huge road sweep over one of the state’s best.
