ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College women's volleyball team continued to feast on opponents on its home floor this season when it returned to Ben Light Gymnasium to face rival SUNY Cortland on Wednesday night. The Bombers ran their record to 7-0 at home this season with a straight-set demolition of the Red Dragons (25-18, 25-8, 25-12).
 
"I thought we really approached tonight's match with a great mindset," head coach Johan Dulfer said. "I was impressed with how determined we were right from the beginning. We had a slight little lull early in the first set, but recognized and corrected the issue quickly. We brought really great energy throughout the entire match."
 
IC entered the day looking to stretch its winning streak over its local rival to four straight matches. The 116^th installment of the Cortaca volleyball rivalry was controlled by the Bombers from the outset, as IC held a decisive 41-to-17 advantage in kills in the match. Ithaca hit a scintillating .392 on 79 total attacks, posting its second-best hitting performance of the season. Defensively, the home side held Cortland to a - .013 hitting mark.
 
Ithaca found most of its success at the pins on the evening, as senior Joelle Goldstein and freshman Reagan Stone repeatedly delivered thunderous strikes throughout the match. The duo each hit double-digits in kills to pace a clinical IC attack.
 
Stone continued her breakout campaign with another excellent effort. The reigning Liberty League Performer of the Week and ECAC Division III North Rookie of the Week tied for a match high with 10 kills on a .556 hitting clip. It was her fourth consecutive match hitting double-digits in kills and registering at least a 4.85 hitting clip.
 
Goldstein also racked up 10 kills on the night, hitting at a .318 success rate in 22 total attempts. The senior added four digs, one assist, and one service ace. It was her second straight match hitting the double-digit mark for kills, while it was her ninth time of the season.
 
Eight other players marked at least one kill against the Red Dragons. Senior Caroline Gerulskis had an efficient evening, registering six kills on nine attacks (.667 hitting), while also posting one solo block and one block assist. Others scoring kills on the outside included junior Hailey Adler and sophomore Taylor McCarthy who each posted one, while Adler included five digs.
 
The middle duo of juniors Amanda Cerruti and Katie Evans had solid evenings as well. Evans racked up five kills on eight attacks (.500 hitting), while she also added one block assist. Cerruti posted four kills, while she chipped in the Bombers top defensive number at the net with one solo block and three block assists. Freshman Katie Basey also scored a lone kill and one dig in a third-set appearance.
 
Sophomore setter Caitlyn Floyd continued to facilitate the IC attack to perfection. She enjoyed a fantastic all-around effort with 36 assists, five digs, two block assists, and one kill. It was her third straight match with 35-plus assists, while it was the sixth time this season she has reached that mark.
 
Behind the block, junior Tara Stilwell also filled up the stat-sheet. She finished with a match-high 14 digs, while she scored three assists, two service aces, and two kills. Senior Kayla Gromen added 10 digs and a match-best three service aces.
 
"On this team, it really is an entire team effort," Dulfer said. "We are truly a 17-player effort every time we are out on the court, which is really nice."
 
The opening frame set the tone for the match, as Ithaca quickly raced out to a sizeable early lead. A 6-1 scoring run, powered by a pair of Cerruti kills, as well as a finish Gerulskis and a service ace from Adler made the score 9-3. A subsequent 5-0 run, which featured three Goldstein kills pushed the lead to double-digits at 14-4. Although the Red Dragons edged back into the set they never closed closer than seven points. Goldstein finished off the 25-18 kill with a powerful kill down the left sideline.
 
Ithaca posted one of its most comprehensive frames of the season in the second set to grab a stranglehold on the match. The Bombers hit .545, racking up 13 kills to best the Red Dragons 25-8. A 9-0 scoring run with Gromen on serve helped IC blow open the set at 15-4. Unlike the first set, IC never let Cortland gain momentum, finishing out the set on a 6-1 scoring run.
 
Similar to the first two games, IC again took control with a lengthy scoring run early in the set. Six consecutive points, again with Gromen on serve, gave Ithaca a 12-5 lead. Goldstein marked a pair of kills during the streak, while Cerruti added one kill and a block assist.
 
IC saw out the frame with more strong play, closing out the match with 12 kills on .455 hitting in the third.
 
The Bombers will be back in action this weekend when they travel to Michigan for the two-day Midwest Invitational hosted by Hope College and Calvin College. IC will begin the road trip on Friday, October 13^th, when it faces Hope College at 4:00 p.m. and Elmhurst College at 6:30 p.m.
 
"This weekend will be a really challenging test for us," Dulfer concluded. "I think we are further along than we were in the early part of this season. We have begun to hit our stride and are playing with a lot of confidence. It will be a great test against some talented teams in some impressive venues and I think we are ready for the challenge."