NEW YORK, N.Y. – Playing in the second day of the NYU Season Opener Invitational, the Ithaca College volleyball team dropped a pair of matches to Millikin University and Kean University.

VS. Millikin (21-25, 23-25, 20-25)
In the first matchup of the day, the Bombers were unable to ride the momentum from the night before as they fell in three straight sets. Millikin won the first set 25-21, followed by a 25-23 second set victory, and a 25-20 third set win sealed the sweep.

All three sets proved to be competitive as Millikin made its breakthrough in the first off a service error and an ace that put them up 23-20. IC fought back with a kill from Anaya Prince but Millikin rattled off the final three points.

Ithaca built a 13-9 lead that was capped off with a Faith Sabatier kill but was unable to hold on with Millikin taking the second set.

Going back-and -forth the teams traded points going all the way to a tie again at 19 points apiece with another Sabatier kill, but Millikin ended on a 6-1 run to put the game away.

Senior middle Jamie Koopman and Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu each totaled nine kills apiece and first year Wesley Slavin stepped up and added 32 assists. Julia Costa notched a pair of aces and finished with 12 digs.

VS. Kean (18-25, 25-18, 25-15, 21-25, 13-15)
The Cougars earned a 1-0 advantage after using two different four point surges including one late in the set. Ithaca fought back to begin the second set jumping out to a 9-3 lead, with highlights including an Naomi Clauhs kill. The Bombers were able to withhold late pressure to take the second set.

Ithaca took control of set three after jumping out to a 6-1 lead and ending the set with a 10-point advantage, 25-10. It took a battle in the fourth set with Kean ending up sending it to the decisive fifth set.

The Bombers built a 4-3 advantage with an Ella Graper kill and a scoring run continued with Graper earning another effort that put her team up 8-4. Kean ended up tying it at nine points apiece and both squads traded points before IC bowed 15-3 after a Aubre Adams kill.
 
REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JOHAN DULFER
"Today was a great learning experience," remarked Dulfer. "I'm not sure our mental toughness and competition were at the level they need to be but it's tough to make the lineup switches we had to make and replicate last night's awesome performance. That'll take a bit of time. I'm so excited about the potential this group has and the week of practice ahead."

Ithaca (1-2) will return to action facing another tough slate of competition at the MIT Invitational beginning with a matchup against the hosts on Friday, September 8 at 6 p.m.