ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team made its long-awaited return home on Tuesday evening when it welcomed SUNY Oneonta to Ben Light Gymnasium for the team's first home match in the month of October. Although the Red Dragons did not make things easy for the Bombers, IC showed strong resolve in a thrilling come-from-behind five-set victory to notch its 20^th victory over the season.
 
"I am unbelievably proud of the team for the fight and resiliency that they once again showed tonight," head coach Johan Dulfer exclaimed. "Oneonta gave us a great battle and we found a way to get the job done under some tough circumstances."
 
For the second time over the past three matches, the Bombers found themselves trailing through three sets, needing to win their final two sets to secure a victory. Just like against Wesleyan on Saturday, Ithaca answered the call with a barnstorming, 25-10, fourth set win and fantastic comeback in the decisive fifth set to take the match against the Red Dragons. The victory upped Ithaca's record to 3-1 in matches that have gone the full distance this season.
 
Fast starts have been a calling card of the Bombers throughout the majority of the season and IC again grabbed the early leg up. Ithaca racked up 16 kills on a .250 hitting percentage to score a 25-20 win in the opening set. A 6-0 run with junior, Kayla Gromen, on serve proved to be the catalyst for the first set win, as the Bombers turned a 12-10 deficit into a 16-12 lead. Junior, Caroline Gerulskis, and freshman, Caitlyn Floyd, notched back-to-back kills to close out the set.
 
Despite the fast start, Ithaca's offense bogged down in the second and third sets, as Oneonta began to assert itself defensively at the net.
 
"Oneonta played some incredible defense tonight," Dulfer said. "They had a great game plan that really took us out of our rhythm. We struggled to take advantage of what they gave us during the middle portion of the match."
 
Although Ithaca's kill total shrunk from 16-to-11 and the hitting percentage dropped to .067 from the first to the second frames, IC hung tight with Oneonta for the majority of the set. However, with Ithaca trailing by a single point at 16-15, the Red Dragons closed out the set with a 9-2 run to even the match at one set apiece.
 
The momentum carried into the third game, as Oneonta continued to baffle Ithaca's attack with a relentless block at the net and strong passing from the back line. An 8-2 run by the visitors widened the Red Dragons lead to 10 points at 21-11; however, something began to click for the Bombers down the backstretch of the set. A 12-2 run, highlighted by kills from sophomores, Katie Evans and Ruby Dyson, as well as junior, Joelle Goldstein, evened the set at 23-all. Although Oneonta held on to the set by scoring the next two points, the tide certainly was heading in Ithaca's direction heading into a crucial fourth set.
 
"While the conclusion to that third set could be deflating for a lot of team, I think it really just proved to our team that we are never out of set no matter how wide the deficit is," Dulfer said. "But it was not just that we came back from the big deficit, but why we were able to come back that really buoyed us through the rest of the match."
 
Both sides traded points over the early stages of the fourth set, but a 7-0 run with sophomore libero, Tara Stilwell, on serve blew the game open for the Bombers at 12-4. A subsequent 6-0 scoring spurt with junior, Marlee Wierda, letting fly on serve eliminated any hope of an Oneonta comeback in the frame. Gerulskis was the big hitter during the second run with a pair of kills, as IC went on to even the match at 2-2 with a 25-10 win in the fourth set.
 
"I have such a great staff with Kayley and Dylan and the team is involved in our discussions during the huddle as well," Dulfer explained. "We made some adjustments to our serve and our block and they really paid off during the final portions of the match. We always stress the 'why' in everything we do and I think that made the difference."
 
In what was a fitting conclusion to this classic match, two sides battled through an excruciatingly tight final set. The Bombers looked to have gained a key 8-6 lead when Evans slammed an over-pass by the Red Dragons for a thunderous kill down the center; however, she was whistled for contact with the net on her follow through, which evened the frame at seven-all. The Red Dragons went on to take four consecutive points to push the Bombers' backs against the wall.
 
For a final time, Ithaca answered the call by closing out the match on an 8-1 run to secure the victory. Goldstein was the go-to option down the stretch with two kills, while Dyson added a clutch finish during the run to tie the match at 12-apiece.
 
"No matter what obstacles the team faced, they repeatedly found a way to answer the bell," Dulfer said. "I cannot say enough about the fight that they showed tonight."
 
Leading the way for the Bombers on attack was Goldstein who had a memorable night to say the least. She notched her team-leading ninth double-double of the season with 14 kills (.225 hitting percentage) and 11 digs, in the process reaching a career milestone with her 1,000^th career kill during the early portion of the second set.
 
Evans was Ithaca's other double-digit attacker, finishing with 10 kills. Freshman, Taylor McCarthy, and junior, Caroline Gerulskis, each added eight kills. Sophomore, Amanda Cerruti, chipped in five kills, while Dyson added three rally finishes.
 
Junior setter, Kayla Gromen, had an excellent match, scoring a double-double with 25 assists and 11 digs. Floyd chipped in all over the stat sheet with 17 helpers, eight kills on an outstanding .636 hitting mark, and five digs.
 
"Our setters really had a great match," Dulfer added. "Oneonta really made things tough for them, but they elevated their game when it mattered down the stretch and really paved the way for the comeback."
 
Stilwell finished with a team-leading 17 digs, adding five assists and two service aces. Senior, Myan Idziur, chipped in one service ace and two assists, while Wierda ended the match with two service aces.
 
Ithaca returns to the court with a pair of matches this weekend in its final Empire 8 crossover of the year. The Bombers welcome Utica for an 11:00 a.m. showdown, while they conclude the day against Houghton at 4:00 p.m. IC will honor its senior class in a pre-match ceremony prior to facing the Highlanders.