Rochester, N.Y.—Despite a career-high 18 kills from freshman Chelsea Hayes (Northern Valley Regional/Haworth, N.J.), Ithaca (17-19) fell to Nazareth (28-8) Sunday at the New York State Regional Challenge. The Golden Flyers won in five sets 20-25, 25-23, 25-18, 21-25, 15-12.

Hayes was one of three Bombers to reach double-figures in kills, with junior Rachel Busch (Hoover/North Canton, Ohio) and freshman Kate Thoene (Voorhees/High Bridge, N.J.) adding 14 and 10 , respectively.

Ithaca held the lead in the fifth set as late as 9-8 before Nazareth notched three straight points to go up 11-9. Kills from Busch twice pulled the Bombers within a score, but they could get no closer than 12-11 during the remainder of the set.

Having dropped the second and third sets, the Bombers rallied late in the fourth set to tie the match at two sets apiece. Down 17-13, Ithaca got five straight points with Hayes serving to catalyze a 7-1 run that put the Bombers up for good. Thoene and Hayes each picked up multiple kills during the set's closing points to seal the win.

Ithaca never trailed in the opening set. Kills from five players and a block from Thoene and fellow freshman Elizabeth Previte (Hunterdon/Flemington, N.J.) helped set up a 9-3 run that turned a 9-9 tie into an 18-12 Bomber lead. Thoene led all players with four total blocks in the match.

Junior Corinna Doctor (Skaneateles/Skaneateles) tallied 42 assists for the Bombers, her most since she picked up 45 against Oneonta on Oct. 21st. Sophomore Tina Orlandini (Flintridge Sacred Heart/Altadena, Calif.) dug a match-high 31 balls, the sixth time this season she has eclipsed 30.

Ithaca concludes play in the tournament at 12:30 p.m. against Brockport.

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