Rochester, N.Y.--The volleyball team extended its winning streak to four matches with a 25-20, 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-8 win over Elmira (12-12, 2-6 Empire 8) at the Empire 8 Crossover. Ithaca (20-13, 6-1 Empire 8) has won both meetings with the Soaring Eagles this season. Senior Rachel Busch (Hoover/North Canton, Ohio) had a career-high 23 kills in the win.

Busch's kill total was the highest for a Bomber in either of the last two seasons. She now has two of Ithaca's three 20 or more kill performance this season, having recorded 21 against Union.

Jumping out to a 10-2 lead, Ithaca took early control of the fifth set. The team scored six straight points with junior Tina Orlandini (Flintridge Sacred Heart/Altadena, Calif.) serving. Orlandini had two of the Bombers' 11 aces in the match.

Senior setter Corinna Doctor (Skaneateles/Skaneateles) had a match-high four aces, and also led all players with 49 assists. She needs just 18 more assists to become Ithaca's all-time leader. Doctor and Orlandini tied for the team lead with 17 digs apiece.

Ithaca combined for 10 total blocks, with sophomores Kate Thoene (Voorhees/High Bridge, N.J.) and Chelsea Hayes (Northern Valley Regional/Haworth, N.J.) each chipped in three.

Thoene recorded 15 kills in the win. Sophomore Karin Edsall (Cornwall Central/Cornwall) also reached double digits, registering 10 kills.

Ithaca closes Empire 8 regular-season play at 3 p.m. with a matchup with host Nazareth. The winner will be the second-seed in the Empire 8 Championship tournament, to be held Nov. 7.

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