ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team splits its Empire 8 Conference tri-match at Nazareth College on Saturday afternoon in Kidera Gymnasium. Ithaca dropped its first match to Stevens in straight sets to snap a 15-match winning streak, but bounced back to defeat Nazareth in five sets.
The Bombers are now 20-2 on the season and 5-1 in the Empire 8 with two more conference matches to go against St. John Fisher and Hartwick on Oct. 24.
MATCH ONE: Stevens 3, Ithaca 0 (25-22, 25-18, 25-21)For the first time since Sept. 5, the Bombers were dealt a loss. Stevens outhit Ithaca, .198 to .144, and notched 11 service aces to four by Ithaca.Â
A huge momentum swing in the match came in the second set, as Ithaca led, 15-10, and looked to be in control. A timeout by Stevens flipped momentum back to the other side, and the Ducks went on a 9-0 to turn a five-point deficit into a four-point advantage.
Sophomore
Joelle Goldstein paced Ithaca with 10 kills on a .296 hitting percentage with three digs. Freshman
Amanda Cerruti swung at a .350 clip and put down seven kills with four total blocks (two solo).
Sophomore
Kayla Gromen handed out 31 assists and completed her double-double with 13 digs, to go along with three aces. Classmate
Caroline Gerulskis tallied seven kills with two digs and two block assists, while freshman
Katie Evans added five kills.
Senior
Dylan Gawinski-Stern notched 11 digs and sophomore Marlee Weirda added eight digs from the back row. Freshmen
Kyle Dandrea and
Hailey Adler contributed three and two kills each.
MATCH TWO: Ithaca 3, Nazareth 2 (25-22, 20-25, 17-25, 25-10, 15-13)The Bombers battled back from a 2-1 deficit with a run-away fourth set victory and a two-point win in the fifth set that ended on a service error by Nazareth. In the Bombers' three set victories, they outhit the Golden Flyers by at least .190 points (.209 to -.044, .462 to -.029 and .353 to .160).
Gerulskis would lead Ithaca in kills with 13 and a .267 hitting percentage, while Goldstein and Dandrea each notched 11 kills. Goldstein also chipped in a team-best 16 digs with three total blocks and Dandrea earned her first collegiate double-double with 15 digs and three aces.
Evans added seven more kills to her afternoon with three blocks, while Cerruti contributed five kills and four blocks.
Gromen dished out 42 more assists with four kills and 11 digs. Gawinski-Stern registered 15 digs to round out the top performers.
Ithaca was scheduled to play Wells College on Oct. 14, but that match has been moved to Oct. 27 and will take place in Ben Light Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Next weekend, the Bombers will travel to the Wellesley Invitational four three matches on the 16th and 17th.
