Lancaster, Pa. – The Ithaca volleyball team (8-9) dropped a 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-17) match to host Franklin & Marshall (7-7) on day one of the F&M Scramble Tournament Friday night.

The Bombers kept each set within striking distance, but the Diplomats ultimately dominated to take the match in straight sets.

After a 6-6 stalemate in the first, F&M went on a 6-1 run to secure the lead for good. Ithaca answered, bringing the match to 14-13, but the Diplomats responded with four consecutive helping to a 25-18 first-set victory.

The second stint featured nine ties, lastly at 16-16, but again F&M outlasted the Bombers. The Diplomats used a 9-1 run to close out the second, 25-17, for a 2-0 series lead.

Though Ithaca claimed an early edge, F&M controlled the third-and-final frame. The Diplomats snapped a 5-5 knot for an 11-6 advantage. Trailing 16-8, the Bombers managed five unanswered but the host squad took nine of the final 13 points for the straight-set win.

Senior Kate Thoene (Voorhees/High Bridge, N.J.) led the Bombers with eight kills, while junior Marissa Woodcome (Pittsford Sutherland/Pittsford) dished out 18 assists. Senior Chelsea Hayes (Northern Valley Regional/Haworth, N.J.) had 12 digs to lead the Bombers' defense.

The Bombers will face Frostburg at 11 a.m. on Saturday followed by a 1:30 p.m. match against Marywood.

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