HOBOKEN, N.J. – The Ithaca College volleyball team hit the road for another challenging slate of matches on Saturday, splitting its first Empire 8 tri-match of the season. The Bombers opened the day with a straight-set win over Nazareth College, but picked up its first blemish in conference play in the second match of the doubleheader, falling to the host Ducks in three hard-fought sets. With the weekend split, IC moves to 12-4 on the season and 2-1 in E8 action.

"I thought we let Stevens dictate the play a little too much and we forgot how to assert ourselves in that match," head coach Johan Dulfer said. "We had a swing to win the first set, but after that we became a little too predictable. We will look to regain that confidence and bring that purpose to our game. I know the team is looking forward to a potential rematch down the road."
 
Ithaca 3 – Nazareth 0 (25-17, 25-23, 25-13)
 
Ithaca opened the day with an impressive three-set win over red-hot Nazareth. The Bombers controlled the match from the outset, rolling to their ninth three-set win of the year.
 
The opening set was one filled with scoring runs for both sides. The first major string went in favor of the Bombers, as a pair of Caitlyn Floyd kills powered a 5-0 run to help Ithaca to an early 10-7 lead. However, the Golden Flyers answered with a three-point swing of their own to tie the score.
 
Ithaca and Nazareth would trade blows over the ensuing five rallies, before IC again took charge with another significant run. Leading 13-12, the Bombers put together a 7-1 run to grab a stranglehold on the set. Amanda Cerruti and Taylor McCarthy did the heavy lifting during the streak, notching two and three kills, respectively.
 
A subsequent four-point rally iced the opening set in favor of the Bombers, with the string capped with a pair of blocks from IC's stellar defense at the net.
 
In what was the tightest frame of the opening match, Ithaca was able to squeeze out a 25-23 win in set number two to take firm control in the match. Strong hitting on both sides prevented either team from creating much breathing room, but it was IC's consistent effort that led to 15 kills in frame to secure the set. Cerruti and McCarthy continued to pave the way for the Bombers, with the latter notching back-to-back kills with the set tied at 23-all.
 
An 11-1 run midway through the third set ensured the Golden Flyers would not be able to extend the match past the minimum three sets. McCarthy continued her stellar match with four kills in the final frame to pace IC to the three-set win.
 
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.
 
Junior, Joelle Goldstein, also posted an excellent hitting effort at the pins. She collected eight kills on 15 attacks to hit .267 in the match. She added four service aces, five digs, and a block assist.
 
Floyd led the Bombers with 22 assists, while she continued to assert herself in attack with five kills on 10 attacks. Junior, Kayla Gromen, added 13 helpers and four digs.
 
Caroline Gerulskis and Katie Evans both added three kills apiece, while Evans also chipped in four block assists.
 
Ithaca 0 – Stevens 3 (28-30, 23-25, 18-25)
 
The hot hitting from the opening match was cooled considerably by the conference's leading hitting defense coming into today's action. Although the Ducks gained a three-set triumph over the Bombers, it was a matter of just a few plays that proved to be the difference in the match, as all three sets were tightly contested.
 
It was an inauspicious start to the match for IC as Stevens jumped out to an early 6-1 edge; however, the Bombers showed their trademark resiliency in battling back to tie the set at 7-all.
 
Both sides traded points until the end, but it was Ithaca that had a chance to take the set in regulation. A huge block by Cerruti and Floyd lifted Ithaca to a 24-23 advantage, but Stevens answered with two points to score a set-point opportunity of their own. Cerruti answered with a kill, followed by a service ace from Goldstein to give IC another chance at the set. However, once again the Ducks punched back with two straight points to push Ithaca to the brink. Although the Bombers staved off two additional set-point chances for Stevens, the home side eventually prevailed for a 30-28 win.
 
The second set looked as though it was going to get away from Ithaca, as Stevens rattled off nine consecutive points to take a 13-5 lead in the middle frame. IC made a valiant effort and nearly made a miraculous comeback down the backstretch of the set. Trailing 24-16, Ithaca stymied seven consecutive set-point opportunities for Stevens to close within one point at 24-23. Sophomore, Kyle Dandrea, powered the comeback effort with three kills, but the Ducks' Brianna Perez came through with a kill on the eighth set-point rally to grab control of the match.
 
Sensing the win, Stevens continued to apply the attacking pressure on Ithaca in set number three. A 6-1 run by the home side turned an 8-5 Ithaca advantage into a two-point deficit for the Bombers. The Ducks did not relinquish the lead throughout the rest of the set, closing out the frame with a 5-1 run to pull away for the 25-18 win.
 
It was a balanced attacking effort for the Bombers, as Evans and Gerulskis both finished with a team-leading nine kills. Gerulskis also paced the team with a .316 hitting percentage, while she chipped in three block assists.
 
Goldstein added a strong two-way effort with eight kills and 17 digs. McCarthy chipped in seven kills on a .238 hitting clip.
 
Cerruti finished the match with six kills, while her four block assists led the Bombers' defensive effort at net. Sophomore, Tara Stilwell, was stellar behind the block with a season-high 27 digs and five assists.
 
Floyd led the Bombers with a career-high 32 assists, while she also chipped in four kills.
 
Looking Ahead
Ithaca returns to action on Tuesday, September 27, when it heads to Alfred, N.Y., for a weekday clash with the Saxons. Start time for the match is slated for 7:00 p.m.

"We have a little time to get healthy and we will continue to make the improvements like we have done all year so far," Dulfer concluded.