New York, N.Y. – The Ithaca volleyball team (20-14) suffered a 3-1 (25-19, 26-24, 16-25, 25-18) setback to Ramapo (25-4) before falling in three to 19th-ranked Cortland, 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, 25-14), on day one of the Hunter Invitational.

After surrendering the first two sets to the Roadrunners, Ithaca claimed the third with a vengeance before losing the fourth. Cortland went on to claim its second win over the Bombers during the season, this time in straight sets.

The teams were knotted at 8-8 and 13-13 in the first, before Ramapo went on to take a 17-13 lead. The Bombers brought the game within one, 20-19, but the Roadrunners claimed five straight to take the first.

Ithaca fought back from a 10-4 deficit to deadlock the second stanza at 13-13. The teams battled back-and-forth before Ramapo took a 2-0 series lead with a 26-24 win.

The Roadrunners held a 13-11 edge in the third, but Ithaca made a 14-4 run to force a fourth frame.

Ramapo dominated in the final set, snapping a 12-12 stalemate to secure a 20-14 cushion and finalize the match with a 25-18 fourth-game win.

Senior Chelsea Hayes (Northern Valley Regional/Haworth, N.J.) led the match with 22 kills while classmates Jessica Hoeffner (Hauppauge/Hauppauge) and Kate Thoene (Voorhees/High Bridge, N.J.) contributed 15 and 10, respectively. Senior Karin Edsall (Cornwall Central/Cornwall) put up 51 assists. Hoeffner had 22 digs, junior Marissa Woodcome (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford) 19 and Hayes 15.

Ithaca broke a 5-5 tie in the first set against the Red Dragons with back-to-back points, but Cortland responded with eight straight to claim the lead indefinitely and take the first, 25-13.

The Bombers challenged in the second set, knotting the stanza on 11 occasions, lastly at 17-17. The Red Dragons outscored Ithaca 8-4 down the stretch to go up, 2-0.

Cortland ran away from a 6-5 advantage in the third to take a 16-7 lead which they maintained for a 25-14 victory.

Hayes again led the Blue & Gold with nine kills against the Red Dragons, while adding 11 digs. Edsall dished out 29 assists.

The Bombers will face conference foe Elmira at 10 a.m. before playing host Hunter at 2 p.m.

Ramapo Box Score | Cortland Box Score