Elmira, N.Y. – The Ithaca volleyball team (8-8, 2-2 Empire 8) defeated Utica (1-15, 0-3 Empire 8) for its second straight-set victory, 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-9), before falling to host Elmira (11-1, 3-0 Empire 8), 3-1 (25-18, 19-25, 25-14, 25-21), Sunday on day two of the Empire 8 Crossover at Elmira.

Utica kept the first match of the day within striking distance, but the Bombers ran away with the second and third sets, taking each by double-digit advantages. Ithaca tallied 20 blocks (four solo, 16 assists) to hang with the Soaring Eagles, but Elmira used a third-set run that propelled them through the fourth-and-final game to claim the match.

Ithaca never trailed during the first set as the Bombers opened on a 5-2 run. With a slight 9-7 lead, Ithaca put away seven unanswered for a 16-7 cushion. The Bombers took it to 21-11, but Utica claimed six of the next seven points to cut its deficit to five. The Blue and Gold's offense led it to a 25-18 first-set victory.

The second stanza was knotted several times before Ithaca snapped a 12-12 tie with four straight points, which it added to for a 13-3 run, that secured the second, 25-15.

Much like the second game, Ithaca dominated the action in the third and final set. The Bombers took a commanding 8-2 lead before the Pioneers brought the score to 9-6, but Ithaca held Utica to just three additional points to claim the third, 25-9.

Seniors Kate Thoene (Voorhees/High Bridge, N.J.) and Jessica Hoeffner (Hauppauge/Hauppauge) put away 14 and 11 kills, respectively, aided by junior Marissa Woodcome's (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford) 36 assists. Sophomore Nicki Readie (Pascack Hills/Montvale, N.J.) and senior Chelsea Hayes (Northern Valley Regional/Haworth, N.J.) served up four aces each helping Ithaca to a team total of 15.

In match two, Elmira opened with six straight points, but Ithaca bounced back to pull within two, 11-9. The Soaring Eagles maintained their gap to take the first, 25-18.

Though the score in the second fluctuated early, the Bombers rattled off seven points to take a 19-11 advantage. Ithaca was stalled at set-point as Elmira managed four consecutive, but an opponent attack error gave the Bombers the win to tie the series at 1-1. It was just the seventh set Elmira surrendered this season.

The Bombers claimed a 5-2 lead in the third but Elmira battled back to take a 10-8 lead. The Soaring Eagles outlasted the Bombers to take the third, 25-14.

Like the third, Ithaca made an early run, but Elmira regrouped to bring the set to a 7-7 stalemate – the first of seven fourth-set ties. Elmira snapped the final deadlock, 16-16, on an Ithaca attack error which the Soaring Eagles capitalized on to take the match in four, 25-21.

Hoeffner tallied a team-leading 11 kills as Woodcome again posted a team-leading 28 assists. Readie dug out 18 times on defense, while Thoene and senior Karin Edsall (Cornwall Central/Cornwall) each put up seven blocks.

The Bombers will next travel to Franklin & Marshall's Scramble Tournament on Sept. 30 to take on host F&M at 7 p.m.

Utica Box Score | Elmira Box Score