New Paltz Box Score | Skidmore Box Score

Saratoga Springs, N.Y. – The Ithaca (19-13) volleyball team surrendered its three-match 2010 series with New Paltz (24-10) as the Hawks blanked the Bombers, 3-0 (25-20, 25-14, 25-11), before falling to host Skidmore (23-4), 3-1 (25-20, 16-25, 26-24, 25-19) on day one of the Skidmore Invitational.

In the first set, New Paltz jumped out to a 4-2 lead before Ithaca went ahead 6-5 on an ace from junior Chelsea Hayes (Northern Valley Regional/Haworth, N.J.). The Bombers would last hold the lead at 9-8 as the Hawks scored seven unanswered and did not allow Ithaca within three points of their lead. Ithaca brought the match to 22-19, but New Paltz surged for a 25-20 first-set victory.

In the second stint the Hawks jumped out to a commanding 8-1 lead and maintained the advantage as they never allowed the Bombers within six points of tying the score. Ithaca brought the match within six on five occasions, lastly at 17-11, before New Paltz outscored Ithaca, 8-3, to claim the second, 25-14.

The third and final frame mirrored much of the second as the Hawks took control early and controlled play throughout. Off to a 7-1 lead, New Paltz increased their cushion to 15-3 before the Bombers tallied a 6-1 run to come within 16-9. The Hawks were quick to regain momentum and put the match away outscoring the Bombers, 9-2, to finalize the set at 25-11.

Junior Jessica Hoeffner (Hauppauge/Hauppauge) led the Bombers with 10 kills aided by assists from freshman Sydney Folk (Long Beach/Long Beach) and sophomore Marissa Woodcome (Pittsford-Sutherland/Pittsford). Folk led the Bombers with 13 and Woodcome added 11. Three Bombers tallied double-digit dig performances led by senior Taylor Horton (Lakeridge/Lake Oswego, Ore.) with 16, while Folk recorded 14 and senior Tina Orlandini (Flintridge Sacred Heart/Altadena, Calif.) 11.

In the night's second match, Skidmore claimed the first, third and fourth sets from the Bombers.

Ithaca led the first set by as many as four points, but the Thoroughbreds surged to knot the game at 12. Despite the score bouncing back-and-forth, Ithaca went ahead 20-19 when Hoeffner and junior Karin Edsall (Cornwall Central/Cornwall) earned block assists, but Skidmore scored the set's final six points to secure the 1-0 series lead.

Ithaca led the second stint the entire way. Putting away 16 kills and committing just two attack errors, Ithaca jumped out to a strong 7-1 lead and never looked back. Skidmore twice brought action within three points of a tie, but Ithaca prevailed with a 25-16 second-set victory.

Ithaca held the scoring edge through a score of 24-23 in the third set, but the Thoroughbreds outscored the Bombers, 2-1, over the final three plays to clinch the two-point spread and claim the third stanza, 26-24.

Skidmore finalized the match with a 25-19 fourth-set margin to claim its second victory over the Bombers in 2010. Skidmore blanked Ithaca, 3-0, at the Union Interleague Challenge on Oct. 8.

Junior Kate Thoene (Voorhees/High Bridge, N.J.) hit .343 percent from the floor to lead the Bombers with 17 kills, while Hoeffner added 13. The tandem of Folk and Woodcome again split setting duties as they tallied 24 and 21 assists, respectively.

Backed by four teammates also with double-digit performances, Horton led the defensive effort with 25 digs.

Ithaca will face Union at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 30, before taking on Cortland at noon.