Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team (10-16, 2-2 Empire 8) snagged a pair of extra-set victories Friday night on day one of the 2013 Ithaca Tournament in Ben Light Gymnasium. The Bombers first claimed a 3-1 (25-21, 25-27, 25-11, 25-21) conference win from Utica (6-15, 0-4 Empire 8), before outlasting Medaille (6-13), 3-2 (16-25, 25-23, 25-18, 23-25, 15-6) in the latter match.

Three Bombers tallied double-digit kills to help Ithaca to a .217 hitting percentage against the Pioneers. Freshman Shaelynn Schmidt put down 15 kills, while classmates Breanne Tuohy and Grace Chang added 11 and 10, respectively. In three sets of play, rookie Molly Brown set for 30 assists. Junior Abbie Hutchinson served up four aces. Senior Syline Kim and junior Rylie Bean added a trio each.

Chang led defensive efforts with 15 digs. Sophomore Dylan Gawinski Stern dug out 10 times. Hutchinson blocked for five of the Bombers' 15.

Ithaca took an early lead against Utica, but the Pioneers battled to knot action at 13. Ithaca answered with five straight en route to a 25-21 first-set win. Utica responded to grab the second, 27-25. It held an 18-13 edge until the Bombers tied-up the set at 19 and 20. The match was last deadlocked at 25-all before Utica secured back-to-back points for a 1-1 series. The Bombers powered to a 25-11 win in the third by opening with a 13-3 run. Not to be outdone, the Pioneers posted a 7-1 stretch against a fresh Bomber lineup in the fourth frame. After trailing 17-10, Ithaca pieced together a 9-0 streak on Bean's serve. The Bombers outscored Utica 15-4 to close out the fourth and snag the Empire 8 win.

Schmidt fell one kill shy of a personal-best, putting down 19 to lead the Bombers against Medaille. Chang, Hutchinson and Kim added seven apiece in the five-setter. Brown recorded 39 assists. Kim dug a career-best 25 balls and Chang chipped in 15. Tuohy matched a season-high five blocks.

The Mavericks ran away with the first set, 10-4. The Bombers crept within 14-10 but a -.067 first-set hitting percentage aided in Medaille's 25-16 victory. Ithaca battled to a 25-23 second-set win. After trailing 3-0, Kim served Ithaca to a 6-3 lead. Ithaca went up 17-12, though the Mavericks responded to tie the set at 21, 22 and 23. A Medaille attack error and a Chang kill led to the third set. The Bombers maintained composure, taking a 19-10 lead in the third and claimed the game, 25-18. Medaille forced a fifth with a 25-23 fourth stint. After five ties, Ithaca inched ahead, 14-9, and stayed ahead until the Mavericks brought the game to a 21-21 stalemate. Medaille outscored Ithaca, 4-2, down the stretch to even games at 2-2. With Chang on serve, Ithaca opened in dominating fashion, 8-0. The Bombers went on to claim a 15-6 fifth, their second straight five-set win.

The Bombers will face Wells at 10 a.m. and Messiah at 12:15 p.m. Saturday.