Box Score HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The No. 4 ranked Juniata volleyball team proved to be too much for Ithaca on Friday as the programs battled in the first match of the Asics Invitational. The Eagles ended up taking the first two sets (25-14, 25-11) before Ithaca showed its resilience winning the third25-23, but Juniata captured the win inside their home gymnasium with a score of 25-19.

Alexandra Montgomery totaled eight kills for the Bombers while Juniata had four who finished with double digit kill totals (Lily Podolan 13, Aly Reardon 12, Mackenzie Coley 10, Audrey Muth 10).

VS. NO. 4 JUNIATA (14-25, 11-25, 25-23, 19-25)

• The Bombers were able to even it up at six points apiece after an Aleka Darko kill and an Amanda Zweifler service ace. Action continued to go back and forth as an Alexandra Montgomery kill made it 8-10. No. 4 Juniata went on a 8-1 run, forcing two timeouts along the way to an 18-9 advantage after an IC attacking error. The Eagles scored the final three points of the set including back-to-back kills from Audrey Muth and Lily Podolan.
• IC quickly called a timeout after going down 5-1 to open the second set. Juniata continued to force its will at the net and produced four-straight kills and went up 19-5. The Eagles ended up going up 2-0 as they scored the final five points to close it out at 25-11.
• Ithaca showed its grit in the third set as it featured seven different ties before IC prevailed 25-23. The Bombers had their most kills (10) within the set as they had a positive hitting percentage at .150. Alexandra Montgomery put her team up 23-21 and IC was able to earn the decisive two-point win by capitalizing on a bad set.
• Ithaca hung around in the beginning part the fourth set, pulling within one at 10-9. Two IC errors and a pair of kills from Podolan made it 14-9. The Bombers got back within two at 14-12, but they would get no closer. 

REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JOHAN DULFER

• "Juniata is one of the best teams in the country and it showed tonight. The atmosphere was also electric and that is why I like us playing in this gym. Tonight made us better and we learned a lot. I'm so proud of the fight we showed after getting pushed around the first two sets. I thought our serve and pass game was strong all night and we learned the correct mindset that is necessary to play with the best in the country. I'm very excited about putting to use these lessons against two strong opponents tomorrow."

The Bombers will take on another pair of strong opponents in Franklin and Marshall (1:30 p.m.) and Virginia Wesleyan University (4 p.m.) in Huntingdon, Pa.