ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team navigated a grueling regular season slate to qualify for the Empire 8 postseason, its fifth consecutive year of making the conference tournament. This weekend, the Bombers will look to successfully defend their 2015 conference title when they head to Hoboken, N.J., for the 2016 tournament. Ithaca is the tournament's second seed and will begin its quest for a championship against third-seeded Nazareth at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 5.
 
Full Match Schedule
Semifinal #1
No. 1 Stevens (30-4, 8-0 E8) vs. No. 4 St. John Fisher (12-19, 5-3 E8)
Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 12:00 P.M. | Canavan Arena – Hoboken, N.J.
 
Semifinal #2
No. 2 Ithaca (24-5, 7-1 E8) vs. No. 3 Nazareth (22-9, 6-2 E8)
Saturday, November 5, 2016 | 2:30 P.M. | Canavan Arena – Hoboken, N.J.
 
Final
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2
Sunday, November 6, 2016 | 12:00 P.M. | Canavan Arena – Hoboken, N.J.
 
Match Coverage
Live Stats | Video Stream
*Available for all matches*
 
Last Time Out
Ithaca went 2-1 in its final weekend of the regular season, dropping a hard-fought five-setter to SUNY New Paltz, before rallying to down SUNY Potsdam in three sets and SUNY Geneseo in a four-setter this past Saturday. The weekend pushed Ithaca's regular season record to 24-5.
 
Scintillating Cerruti
The hottest player for Ithaca heading into the conference tournament is sophomore middle Amanda Cerruti. The West Islip, N.Y., native had a fantastic final weekend of the regular season, racking up 30 total kills and hitting .375-or-better in all three matches. She also continued to be a terror for opponents at the net, as she amassed four solo blocks and seven block assists over the three contests. She was named Empire 8 Player of the Week for her efforts.
 
Bombers Blanket All-Conference Awards
The Empire 8 released its all-conference awards for volleyball earlier this week. Once again, Ithaca was well represented with six individuals recognized in the release. Headlining the announcements was junior outside hitter, Joelle Goldstein, who was named the Empire 8 Player of the Year in addition to being an All-Conference First-Team selection. A trio of sophomores earned Second-Team nods in middle hitters, Amanda Cerruti and Katie Evans, as well as libero, Tara Stilwell. Rookie setter, Caitlyn Floyd, was an Honorable Mention All-Conference selection, while junior setter, Kayla Gromen, was named to the Sportswoman of the Year team. Full release can be found HERE: CLICK HERE.
 
Tournament History
Ithaca has qualified for the Empire 8 Tournament 12 times since the league began hosting a postseason tournament at the conclusion of the 2003 season. Overall, Ithaca has gone 11-8 in conference tournament matches over that span. IC has taken home the conference title five times in total, with one of those victories coming before a conference tournament was hosted in 1999. In addition to last season's championship, Ithaca also won in 2010, as well as back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005. Full tournament history can be found HERE: CLICK HERE.
 
Scouting Nazareth
Nazareth concluded the regular season with a 22-9 overall record and 6-2 mark in Empire 8 play to earn the No. 3 seed for the conference tournament. The Golden Flyers two Empire 8 losses came to top-seeded Stevens and the Bombers. Nazareth posted two members on Empire 8 All-Conference teams in senior outside hitter, Cady Messmer, and sophomore middle blocker, Kelsey Milligan. Messmer was named a First-Team honoree after racking up 338 kills during the regular season. Milligan took home Honorable Mention honors after posting a team-best 76.0 total blocks on 21 solos and 55 assists. Additionally, Olivia Krick, was the Golden Flyers' representative on the Sportswoman of the Year Team. It will be the third straight year that Ithaca and Nazareth have clashed in the semifinals of the conference tournament.
 
Last Time They Met…
Ithaca defeated Nazareth in three sets earlier this season with the match also taking place at Canavan Arena as part of the first Empire 8 crossover weekend of the season. The Bombers controlled play from the outset, rolling to the straight-sets win (25-17, 25-23, 25-13). Freshman, Taylor McCarthy, finished with a team-leading 11 kills on a strong .348 hitting percentage. Cerruti was clinical in her attacking through the middle, posting 10 kills on 14 attacks to hit a match-best .571 clip. The sophomore middle added a solo block and a block assist. Goldstein also had a strong all-around match with eight kills, five digs, four service aces, and a block assist.
 
Scouting Stevens
Stevens took home the conference's top seed four a fourth consecutive year after rolling to a 30-4 record during the regular season and an 8-0 sweep through Empire 8 play. The Ducks placed seven members on All-Conference teams, headlined by Sydni Horner, who was named Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year. Freshman, Casey King, was named the conference's Rookie of the Year. Joining Horner and King as First-Team selections were Brianna Perez and Mary Tobin. Freshman, Sara Hain, was a Second-Team honoree, while classmate, Shelby Stewart, was an Honorable Mention selection.
 
Last time They Met…
Ithaca fell to Stevens in a tightly contested three-set match in the back half of the first Empire 8 crossover weekend (30-28, 25-23, 25-18). Evans and Caroline Gerulskis paced the Bombers' attack with nine kills apiece, while Goldstein added eight kills and 17 digs.
 
Scouting St. John Fisher
Fisher posted a 12-19 record during the regular season, but secured the final spot in the tournament with a 5-3 mark in conference play. The Cardinals three losses were against the three other teams in the tournament field, all coming in three sets. Fisher placed two members on the Empire 8 All-Conference teams earlier this week, as Anna Marcy was named a First-Team selection after amassing 353 kills during the regular season. Danielle Reid was selected the college's representative on the Sportswoman of the Year Team.
 
Last Time They Met…
Ithaca swept the Cardinals in three sets in Rochester during the second Empire 8 crossover weekend of the season. The Bombers controlled the match winning 25-18, 25-18, 25-21, while limiting the Cardinals to just .036 hitting in the contest. McCarthy paced the Bombers with 12 kills, while Goldstein added 10 kills and seven digs.
 
Looking Ahead
The NCAA Tournament seeding and selection show for women's volleyball will be held during the morning on Monday, November 7.