Weekend Match Info
Friday, October 14, 2016
Ithaca (16-4) at Wellesley (11-9)
Dorothy Towne Fieldhouse | Wellesley, Mass. | 4:30 P.M.
 
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Ithaca (16-4) vs. Wesleyan (9-5)
Keohane Sports Center | Wellesley, Mass. | 9:00 A.M.
 
Ithaca (16-4) vs. Endicott (14-9)
Keohane Sports Center | Wellesley, Mass. | 11:00 A.M.
 
Match Coverage
Live Stats | Video Stream
*Live Stats and video will only be available for Ithaca's match against Wellesley on Friday, October 14
 
Last Time Out
Ithaca took a big step towards securing its place in the postseason, scoring victories over St. John Fisher and Hartwick in the team's second Empire 8 crossover of the season. The Bombers opened the day in Rochester, N.Y., with a straight-sets victory over the host Cardinals. IC completed the doubleheader sweep with a four-set victory over Hartwick. The double dip lifted Ithaca's record to 5-1 in conference play.
 
Goldstein Heating Up
Junior, Joelle Goldstein, has been the go-to option for the Bombers all season on the outside; however, she put together perhaps her best performance of the season at last weekend's crossover. The third-year pin hitter racked up 29 kills and 17 digs over the two matches, which included a season-high 19 kills and 10 digs in a double-double performance in the victory over Hartwick. She has now posted double-digit kill efforts in four straight matches, while her 213 kills on the year are good for fifth most in the conference.
 
Gromen Sets the Tone
Ithaca's other third-year standout entering the year was junior setter Kayla Gromen. IC's top facilitator entering the year has handled her role shift with class, as the Bombers have played primarily with a two-setter rotation in the six-two for the majority of the year. The Lancaster, Pa., product had her best week of the season, recording 75 assists over three contests, which included a season-high 30 in the four-set win over SUNY Cortland. With 336 helpers on the year, she sits just 194 shy of tying Sindie Shollenberger '95 for fifth on the program's all-time career list. Gromen enters the weekend with 2,680 career assists.
 
Stilwell Steady Behind the Block
Sophomore, Tara Stilwell, has been an unsung hero for the Bombers in her first season on South Hill. Needing to fill the void left with the graduation of last year's outstanding libero and current assistant coach, Dylan Gawinski Stern, the transfer has immediately stepped in and provide strong defense behind IC's excellent net defenders. She ranks second in the conference with 379 digs and looks to be well on pace to potentially cracking the top-10 best seasons for digs in the entire history of the Ithaca volleyball program. She is 156 digs short of tying Amanda Hubbard (2006) for 10^th in the single-season digs record book.
 
Scouting Wellesley
The tournament hosts enter the weekend with an 11-9 overall record, but are riding a three-match losing skid into Friday's match against the Bombers. The Blue sit middle of the pack in the NEWMAC with a 4-3 mark on the year. Sophomore middle hitter, Yasmine Reece, is the team's top attacker with 280 kills, while she also is a formidable defender at net with 48 total blocks on 10 solos and 38 assists. Freshman, Kennedy Ulfig, and sophomore, Ashley Peng, also are significant attacking presences at the pins, chalking up 127 and 105 kills, respectively.
 
Scouting Wesleyan
Similar to Wellesley, Wesleyan University has also been on a bit of a downward swing following a hot start to the year. Although the Cardinals began the year with an 8-1 record, they have dropped four of their last five entering the weekend. Wesleyan heads into the tournament with a 9-5 overall mark on the season. Junior outside hitter, Sarah Swenson, is the team's top attacker with 107 kills, while hybrid inside-outside player, Nicole Hilton, is not far behind with 104 rally finishes. Freshman, Olivia Guidotti, has a potent serve with a team-leading 21 service aces through 14 matches. The tandem of Hilton and fellow first-year player, Gabby Bennett, have been formidable defensively at net. Both enter the weekend with 42 total blocks to co-lead the squad.
 
Scouting Endicott
Endicott has the best opposing record of Ithaca's opponents this weekend, as the Seagulls enter with an overall record of 14-9 on the year. The team has been up-and-down thus far through its most recent slate, posting a 3-2 record over its last five matches. The Gulls boast two players with over 200 kills on the year in senior, Lori McIntyre, and junior, Lauren Sheehan. McIntyre paces the squad at the one pin with 243 kills, while Sheehan has posted an even-200 at the opposite pin. The senior has also been the team's most lethal server with 35 aces on the season. Defensively, sophomore middle blocker, Emily Diezemann, leads the team at net with 37 total blocks on six solos and 31 assists.
 
Looking Ahead
Ithaca returns to action on Tuesday, October 18, when they welcome SUNY Oneonta for a 6:00 p.m. match at Ben Light Gymnasium.