CORTLAND, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team returned to action following a rare one-week hiatus when it took to the court at Whitney T. Corey Gymnasium at SUNY Cortland. The Bombers upped their record to 14-4 on the season with a victory over their Route 13 rival, coming up on the right side of a wild and wacky four-set contest on Tuesday evening.
 
"Today was definitely a tale of two different matches," head coach Johan Dulfer said. "It was great to see our team battle through some difficult stretches and get the job done this evening."
 
The opening set was dominated by the Bombers, jumping out to an early lead and using a season-long point streak to run away with the first game. IC snatched the early advantage with a 10-6 run to begin the frame. Sophomore, Amanda Cerruti, powered the run with four kills and a block assist.
 
After Ithaca got back on serve at 11-6, junior, Marlee Wierda, ensured the Red Dragons would not score another point. The Bombers won 14 consecutive rallies to score a 25-6 victory, the team's largest margin of victory in a set this season. Wierda scored three aces during the run, while junior, Joelle Goldstein, collected four kills during the streak.
 
"I was really impressed with our purpose on serving tonight," Dulfer continued. "I thought we played an extremely mature and assertive first set."
 
The strong serving continued into the early portion of the second set, as Wierda continued her unprecedented run to help IC to a 3-0 lead. Wierda picked up a fourth service ace, while sophomore, Ruby Dyson, and Goldstein each chipped in a kill.
 
The Bombers continued to maintain the edge through the early portion of the second game, but midway through the set SUNY Cortland began to find its own serving game. The Red Dragons turned a 13-9 deficit into a 17-15 advantage, as Courtney Silberer scored a pair of kills and a clutch block assist. Cortland grabbed a stranglehold on the set with a 5-0 run and held on to even the match a one-set apiece.
 
"We lost our composure for a bit and I think we got a little rattled during that second set," Dulfer explained. "However, it was really great to see how we fought back into the match as we have so often done this season."
 
Riding the momentum from the second-set win, the Red Dragons grabbed the early leg up in the crucial third set. Cortland's Samantha Czeczotka scored three service aces, as the home side widened a lead as large as 13-5 through the opening portion of the set.
 
Despite struggling to contend with the Red Dragons' service game, Ithaca battled back chipped away at the deficit with three separate three-point runs to close the gap. Trailing 22-19, the Bombers strung together a six-point run to swipe the third set with freshman, Taylor McCarthy on serve. The rookie scored a kill and an ace during the run, while Goldstein added a pair of kills. Sophomore, Katie Evans, capped the set with a big block.
 
"I was really proud of how our setters contended with some difficult circumstances tonight," Dulfer exclaimed. "They persevered and really paved the way for us to come back during that third set."
 
With the match within reach, the Bombers came out with purpose during the decisive fourth set. After dropping the first two points, IC went on a 13-to-4 run to grab firm control of the game. Evans powered the run with three kills and a big block assist. Ithaca maintained the edge to win the set 25-18 and the match three-sets-to-one.
 
Goldstein paced the Bombers with 16 kills on a .229 hitting percentage, while she added six digs and three service aces. Evans had her best match of the season with 14 kills on a .522 hitting success rate. The sophomore middle added a solo block.
 
McCarthy chipped in nine kills on a .214 hitting mark, while she also scored two service aces and two digs. Cerruti finished with four kills, while she repeatedly asserted herself defensively at net. The sophomore middle also posted one solo block and four block assists.
 
Dyson, and junior, Caroline Gerulskis, scored four and five kills, respectively. Wierda posted a team-high four service aces and chipped in nine digs.
 
Junior setter, Kayla Gromen, had a phenomenal match, marking a season-high 30 assists and notching a double-double with 16 digs. Freshman, Caitlyn Floyd, added 14 helpers.
 
Senior, Myan Idziur, chipped in two service aces and five digs. Sophomore transfer, Tara Stilwell, marked a team-high 28 digs, her 11^th contest with 20-plus digs this season.
 
Ithaca returns to action this weekend when it heads to St. John Fisher for its second Empire 8 tri-match of the season. The Bombers open the Saturday slate against the host Cardinals at 11:00 a.m., while they will take on Hartwick at 1:30 p.m.