Match Highlights (Wesleyan)

ITHACA, N.Y. – The seventh-ranked Ithaca College women's volleyball team returned to the court at Ben Light Gymnasium on Friday looking to build off a highly successful opening weekend performance. Looking confident and energetic throughout the day, the Bombers made impressive work of two talented teams that are expected to be favorites in their respective conferences this season. IC opened the day with a straight-set sweep of SUNYAC foe SUNY Geneseo, the Bombers then capped first-day action at the South Hill Classic with another three-set triumph over NESCAC favorite Wesleyan (Conn.).
 
"Both opponents today provided different challenges," head coach Johan Dulfer said. "With both Geneseo and Wesleyan you have two well-coached teams that fight really hard and really make you grind for every single point. Looking at ourselves, it was exciting performance that we hope to build on. We saw some new faces out on the court in some new positions and we talk about it all the time that it is an entire team effort. Putting teammate before self and I saw a lot of positive signs in that regard today."
 
Most noticeable from the sidelines was the clear confidence the Bombers brought to the court in both contests. The energy IC presented themselves with today had a different feel from the squad that did so well despite some early jitters seven days ago.
 
"I was really impressed with our purpose tonight," Dulfer continued. "We made the difference from the end line, serving both teams incredibly tough. We had it on offense, we had it on blocking, and we were sacrificing to get to every ball possible. Very impressed with the purpose the team played with tonight."
 
No. 7 Ithaca 3 – SUNY Geneseo 0 (25-13, 25-19, 25-17)
The Bombers opened the day with another impressive performance against an in-region team when they faced red-hot SUNY Geneseo in today's first match. The Knights entered the day with a perfect 4-0 record after sweeping all four matches during its swing to the North Country last weekend; however, they were no match for IC who pulled away for the convincing straight-sets victory.
 
Both teams were sharp in the outset, which led to back-and-forth play through the game's first 20 rallies. Although Ithaca was hitting the ball well, Geneseo was able to keep pace against IC's new-look block up front. However, the Bombers began to find their rhythm in serve-receive and the net-front defense midway through the opening set. Leading 12-11, the Bombers rattled off a 7-0 scoring run with senior libero Tara Stilwell on serve. Highlighting the run were two kills from sophomore outside hitter Reagan Stone, a scoring finish from senior middle Katie Evans, and an ace from Stilwell.
 
The Bombers easily saw out the set, scoring a 6-1 scoring run to wrap up the early lead in the match. Evans tallied a kill and block assist, while freshman outside hitter Alison Lipton and sophomore pin-hitter Sarah Jennison added one kill apiece. Senior defensive specialist Hailey Adler closed things out with a service ace.
 
The second frame was more of the same, as the Knights hung around early, before the Bombers were able to pull away during the middle portion of the set. With the score tied at 16-16, Ithaca notched a 3-0 scoring run that was a Stilwell kill bookended by a pair of spikes to the floor by Evans. Two more kills from Lipton and a service ace by Evans helped IC extend the lead down the stretch in the 25-19 win in the second set.
 
With a commanding lead in the match, Dulfer turned to his talented young depth and tasked them with finishing things off in the opener. Rookies Jaelyn Hershberger and Monet Peoples joined the rotation to begin the third and performed well in their collegiate debuts.
 
SUNY Geneseo showed some fight to extend the match in the third set, actually pulling out to a four-point lead as the game entered its midway point. Trailing 11-7, the Bombers began to battle back, rolling up a 5-1 scoring run which featured a kill and service ace from junior setter Caitlyn Floyd and an addition kill from Lipton.
 
A subsequent 3-0 scoring run lifted IC into the lead and the home side did not relinquish down the stretch. Stone started the run with a big kill down the line. The rookie tandem of Hershberger and Peoples combined on a stuff at the left pin, while Stone finished off another attack with a thunderous spike to give IC separation at 15-13.
 
Stone, Evans and Hershberger each added kills down the stretch, while Adler added two service aces over the final run to close out the match.
 
Stone continued her torrid start the season with another masterful hitting performance from the pins. She finished with 16 kills, recording just a single error, in 23 total attack for a .652 hitting clip. The second-year added four digs and one block assist.
 
On the opposite pin, Lipton had another excellent outing with nine kills on 20 attacks (.300 hitting). She added five digs. Supporting Lipton was sophomore Sarah Jennison and Hershberger who finished with two kills and one kill, respectively. Hershberger added three digs and one block assist, while Jennison finished with a lone dig.
 
In the middle, Evans had a strong hitting day as well. She marked nine kills on 18 attacks (.389 hitting), while defensively one dig and one block assist. Sophomore Katie Basey added one kill and one block assist.
 
Floyd finished with 37 assists, narrowly missing out on a double-double with nine digs. She also added one kill and three service aces.
 
The backline defense looked much more settled with a weekend under its belt. Again leading the way was Stilwell who continued her excellent start with a team-high 16 digs. She added two assists, one service ace, and another kill. Freshman Laura Severance had eight digs, while Adler finished with five and rookie Jordyn Lyn Hayashi posted two digs.
 
No. 7 Ithaca 3 – Wesleyan (Conn.) 0 (25-20, 25-15, 25-19)
Riding the wave of confidence, Ithaca returned to the court for the final match of the evening when it took on a Wesleyan (Conn.) squad that is expected to be the NESCAC favorite this season. The Bombers were relentless in the match, racking up nearly a 2-to-1 advantage in kills (43-to-25) to sweep the match in straight sets to add another high quality non-league win to their impressive early resume.
 
Much like the first match, the Bombers began to take control midway through the opening set. Separated by a point late in the frame, IC strung together a 5-0 scoring run that proved to be the difference and certainly paid dividends in the confidence of the team moving forward in the match. Highlighting the run was the strong serving of Lipton, who finished with a service ace during the stretch. Stone and Peoples combined on a block to put IC within a point of clinching the set at 24-18. Three rallies later, Peoples sent down a hard kill to lift Ithaca to the first-set win 25-20.
 
The second set was a display of pure domination from the service line by IC. Stilwell again sparked a run that helped IC take a lead it would not relinquish in the frame. The 4-0 run included a combo block by Stone and Evans, a kill by Stone, a service ace by Stilwell and was capped by a kill from Hershberger off of a long rally.
 
After the teams traded points through the middle portion of the game, Ithaca pulled together another 6-0 run to take full command of the match. Sophomore Delaney Runyon sparked the surge from the service line this time, as the Cardinals had trouble contending with her hard drives over the net. She collected two aces during the streak, which also featured a pair of kills from Lipton. A 3-0 run clinched the second set, as Lipton again collected a kill and Floyd finished it with a first-touch push over the Wesleyan defense and inside the left corner end line.
 
Clearly in control, Ithaca did not let up in the final frame. An early 8-1 scoring run elevated IC to comfortable lead at 11-6. Hershberger and Evans each marked a pair of kills during the run, while Lipton added a scoring spike and Adler picked up a service ace.
 
IC turned to Lipton repeatedly down the stretch and the freshman delivered time and again. The rookie would mark four kills in the final set, as Ithaca coasted to the 25-19 set win. Evans also shown brightly with two more kills down the stretch, while also combining on a block with Hershberger. Stone added a kill of her own, while also combining with Peoples on a block. Lipton clinched the match with a cross-court finish much to the delight of over 200 spectators in the audience.
 
On the outside, it was the Lipton that paced IC in the nightcap. She finished tied for the team high with a career-best 12 kills on .375 hitting. She added three digs, one service ace, and one block assist. At the other pin, Stone posted nine kills, eight digs, and three block assists. Providing further assistance outside was Hershberger. The first-year posted three kills, two digs and one block assist in her first extended action of the season.
 
Evans had her best match of the season in the middle. She tied Lipton for the team lead with 12 kills on absolutely scathing .524 hitting success. The senior also added a pair of block assists. Peoples also showed well in her first extended action, marking three kills on nine swings and adding three block assists.
 
Floyd again had an exceptional outing with 33 assists, eight digs, and four kills. It was her fifth straight match eclipsing the 30-assist mark to begin the season. Runyon finished with two service aces and one assist.
 
Stilwell keyed the backline passing with 17 digs, two more assists, and one service ace. Hayashi and Adler added six digs apiece, while Adler also picked up a service ace.
 
Looking Ahead
Ithaca will conclude the weekend with the final match of tomorrow's South Hill Classic when it hosts Susquehanna in a match starting a 4:00 p.m. The River Hawks won their opening match of the event on Friday, downing SUNY Geneseo in a competitive four-set match.
 
"Susquehanna is a program that is incredibly well-coached and has been a top-level program for so long," Dulfer concluded. "They are going to present us with some challenges. At the end of the day it will come down to our focus and commitment to strong play with serve-receive and that is what we will continue to emphasize heading into tomorrow."