Oneonta Box Score | Union Box Score

Schenectady, N.Y. -- Ithaca (12-10) dropped a 3-0 (25-19, 25-16, 25-16) decision to Oneonta (11-14) on Saturday morning before claiming a 3-1 (25-20, 25-20, 23-25, 25-20) victory over host Union (14-10) on day two of the Interleague Challenge. Junior Kate Thoene (Voorhees/High Bridge, N.J.) was named to the all-tournament team after leading the Bombers at the net with 20 blocks over the course of the weekend.

In the day's first match, Ithaca, who had previously defeated the Red Dragons by the same score, 3-0, on Sept. 10 at the Bomber Invitational, knotted the match on 12 occasions but not once controlled the score.

Oneonta won the first point of each three sets and never looked back.

Following a 4-4 stalemate in the first set, the Red Dragons went on an 11-4 run before taking the frame, 25-19. The Bombers surged to bring the set within three, 19-16, but it was not enough as Oneonta outlasted Ithaca, 6-3, to lead the series 1-0.

The second stint was neck-and-neck at 10-10 but the Red Dragons used a run to implement a 19-12 cushion. Oneonta closed out the match with a 25-16 final score.

The final set of the match remained attainable for the Bombers as they kept it close early, but the Red Dragons pulled away for a 20-13 lead before finalizing the set, and match, with another 25-16 outcome.

Sophomore Marissa Woodcome (Pittsford-Sutherland/Pittsford) tallied 22 assists for Ithaca, while senior Taylor Horton (Lakeridge/Lake Oswego, Ore.) and junior Jessica Hoeffner (Hauppauge/ Hauppauge) tallied double-digit digs with 13 and 10, respectively.

In the second match of the day, the Bombers took three 25-20 sets from Union and gave up a 25-23 third set in earning their 12th victory of the 2010 campaign.

Ithaca jumped out to an 11-5 lead in the first set and maintained the advantage despite the Dutchmen thrice bringing the set within a point of the Bombers. Ithaca went on to score the final four points of the game to claim the first set.

The second set mirrored much of the first as the Bombers took an 8-3 lead before Union twice dwindled the gap to bring the set within one. After a 17-16 Ithaca edge, the Blue & Gold outscored the host, 8-4, for a 2-0 series lead.

The third set proved to be more challenging as it was locked up on 11 occasions including a 22-22 score. The Dutchmen capitalized on a trio of Ithaca errors to claim the third set, 25-23.

The fourth frame decided the match after Ithaca cruised to a 25-20 victory highlighted by a 10-2 run that awarded the Bombers a 19-11 cushion. Union, however, did make up ground bringing the game within four, 24-20, before junior Karin Edsall (Cornwall Central/Cornwall) used an assist from freshman Sydney Folk (Long Beach/Long Beach) to decide the fate of the match.

Hoeffner led the offensive effort with 15 kills, while Thoene added 13 and junior Chelsea Hayes (Northern Valley Regional/Haworth, N.J.) 11.

Woodcome and Folk split setting duties tallying 24 and 16 assists, respectively, while six Bombers recorded double-digit dig performances. Horton led the squad with 21. Thoene added eight blocks (two solo, six assists), while the team notched a powerful 18 blocks during the action.

The Bombers are next slated to travel to the Wellesley Invitational on Oct. 15-16. Ithaca will play New Paltz on the first day of action at 7 p.m.