BALTIMORE, Md. – The Ithaca College volleyball team fought back from an early deficit to win a five-set thriller over Randolph-Macon on Saturday to conclude play at the Johns Hopkins Tournament on Saturday. The Bombers stumbled in the first two sets losing 12-25 and 23-25, before winning three-straight at 25-16, 25-8 and 15-8.

IC scored the opening point of the match on a Aleka Darko kill that was assisted by first-year Peyton Miller. The Yellow Jackets went on to score seven unanswered points, which included three service aces. Randolph-Macon closed the set by scoring 10 of the last 14 points.

The second set was more competitive with the schools trading points and the lead down the stretch. The Bombers built a 17-15 advantage that included a kill from Alison Lipton. The Yellow Jackets went on a nice run of its own, but IC proved to be tough to put away as they scored four-straight including back-to-back aces from Paris Buckner that made it 23-24. Randolph-Macon won to give them the 2-0 lead.

Tied 9-9, IC took control of the third set by going on a 7-0 run that helped them to the 25-16 win. Ithaca began rolling in the third and fourth sets as they used that momentum to force the deciding fifth set. They built a 10-1 lead in the fifth frame that was capped off by a Paris Buckner kill and won 15-8.

The Bombers were led by senior Jaelyn Hershberger who tallied 14 kills and Paris Buckner finished the match with a season-best five aces and seven blocks. Ithaca will return to its friendly confines in Ben Light Gymnasium on Wednesday, September 22 when it hosts SUNY Geneseo. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.