Box Score ITHACA, N.Y. -- In the Empire 8 opener for both teams, the Ithaca College volleyball team defeated Elmira in five sets by scores of 25-27, 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 16-14. The Bombers held off three match points in the decisive set, and won the final five points to claim the victory. Ithaca is 8-3 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8. Elmira is 2-8 overall and 0-1 in the conference. Ithaca continues conference play this weekend with matches Saturday against St. John Fisher and Hartwick at Oneonta.
 
A close opening set was claimed by Elmira. The Soaring Eagles led 24-21 before Ithaca rallied to tie the set with three straight points. Elmira eventually went on to win the set on two kills. Ithaca won the second and third sets by identical 25-19 scores, but Elmira answered with a 25-21 win in the fourth set.
 
In the decisive fifth set, Elmira led most of the way, and held an 8-6 advantage at the changeover. Elmira went on to leads 13-8 before effective serving from Myan Idziur brought Ithaca closer. Elmira served with a 14-11 lead, but Ithaca won the point on a kill from Joelle Goldstein for the side out. Maggie Mutschler then served four straight points, including an ace to start the run, and Rylie Bean smartly played a ball inside the back line to end a long rally that gave Ithaca a 15-14 lead. Mutschler served one more point as Ithaca wrapped things up on an attack error by the Soaring Eagles for the 16-14 win.
 
The Bombers totaled 49 kills in the match, led by 18 from Bean. Joelle Goldstein had 11 kills. Molly Brown had 39 assists in the match. Defensive leaders for Ithaca included Kayla Gromen with 25 digs and Caroline Gerulskis and Katie Hartman with seven block assists each. Brown added 12 digs and Bean had 10 digs. Brown served three aces and Idziur had two.
 
Coach Janet Donovan Postgame


Dylan Gawinski Stern Postgame