HUNTINGDON, Pa. – Reigning Liberty League Rookie of the Week Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu helped lead the No. 23 ranked Ithaca College volleyball team past (RV) Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday afternoon. The Bombers were able to push Ohio Wesleyan in four set sets as they end the regular season on a high note winning eight-straight entering the Liberty League Tournament.

VS. (RV) OHIO WESLEYAN (25-18, 25-10, 21-25, 25-21)
The Bombers hit .218% for the match as they set the tone in the first set with a match-best 16 kills. They rolled to an early 8-2 lead with an Ella Graper kill that was assisted by Peyton Miller. They would continue to maintain a lead building it to 14-9 with a Faith Sabatier kill at the net. Maddie Cox assisted on a pair of successful Naomi Clauhs swings and served up an ace with Ithaca going up 21-16. The Bombers scored four of the final six points to take the first set 25-18.

Ithaca was at its best within the second set as they dominated the middle portion of it after establishing an 11-7 lead. The Bombers went on an 11-2 run that saw serious damage at the net created by Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu who was able to spark the run. Up 22-9, Ithaca scored the final three points of the set to go p 2-0 with kills from Anaya Prince, Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu and Faith Sabatier.

Ohio Wesleyan made things interesting by taking the third set 25-21, but the Bombers were able to reestablish momentum at the beginning of the fourth. Peyton Miller served up a service ace and assisted on a pair of kills from Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu and Ella Graper to put Ithaca up 7-3. The Bombers never trailed within the set as back-to-back successful swings from Gonzalez-Abreu and Naomi Claughs as they went up 20-14. Ohio Wesleyan would pull within one at 23-22, but Ithaca would close out the match with an opponent attacking error and the final kill from Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu who finished with a match-high 17 kills.

Ellie Benedict connected on two aces as Maddie Cox dished out 46 assists.

REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JOHAN DULFER
"This weekend accomplished what we had hoped for," Dulfer said. "We were challenged by two very good teams and we'll hope to take these lessons into the playoffs coming up."

"I thought today we played some of our best volleyball of the year and we continue to get better which is fun to see."

The Bombers will play the winner of the No. 4/No.5 match in the Liberty League Semifinals, which will be Vassar against Skidmore. The semifinal matchup will take place at 4 p.m. on Friday, November 10 at Ben Light Gymnasium.