Hoboken, N.J.—Despite storming back from an early deficit in the fifth set, Ithaca (9-8, 1-2) fell to Rochester Institute of Technology (8-12, 1-2) 22-25, 26-24, 25-17, 23-25, 15-11 Sunday in the Empire 8 Crossover hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology. The Bombers conclude play in the tournament Sunday afternoon against St. John Fisher.

The Tigers jumped out to 8-2 lead to open the fifth set. After the two teams switched courts, Ithaca engineered a big run of its own. Powered by an ace from freshman Karin Edsall (Cornwall Central/Cornwall) and two kills from junior Jen Heberton (Darien/Darien, Conn.), along with four RIT attack errors, the Bombers rode a 9-2 streak to an 11-10 lead. They could not hold back the final Tiger rally, however, with RIT scoring the match's final five points.

Ithaca took the first set after two kills from Heberton helped break a 12-12 tie. Heberton led the Bombers with 19 kills, adding 12 digs. Ithaca maintained its slim lead for the rest of the set, getting aces from junior Corinna Doctor (Skaneateles/Skaneateles) and senior Brianna D'Errico (Byron-Bergen/Byron).

After losing the next two sets, the Bombers played the Tigers to 13-13 tie to open the fourth. Consecutive kills from freshman Kate Thoene (Voorhees/Glen Gardner, N.J.) put Ithaca up 15-13, with the lead swelling to as much as five points at 22-17. Four straight kills helped the Tigers tie the score at 23, but the Bombers got a kill from junior Francine Nikas (Greenwich/Greenwich, Conn.) and an ace from Doctor to take the match.

Doctor contributed a pair of aces in the match, and tallied 44 assists. Sophomore Tina Orlandini (Flintridge Sacred Heart/Altadena, Calif.) dug 33 balls, her third match with at least 30 digs this season.

The Bombers play St. John Fisher Sunday at 3 p.m.

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