ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College volleyball team defeated Eastern University Friday evening in a four-set battle. Despite dropping the opening stanza, the Bombers came back to win three sets in a row for the victory. This win marks their 11
th of the season moving their record to 11-3 overall as they will embark onto Liberty League competition beginning with Union College on Saturday.
VS. EASTERN UNIVERSITY (21-25, 25-22, 25-17, 25-15)
Although Ithaca dropped the first set it was a close battle throughout resulting in a 25-21 loss. However, this talented team did not let the first set determine the outcome of the game. In another close second set with a back-and-forth battle between the two teams, Ithaca prevailed tying the game 1-1. The last two sets were dominated by the Bombers both ending in scores of 25-17 and then 25-15.
Ithaca dominated the contest tallying 69 points from 49 kills, nine service aces, and 11 blocks.
Key contributors of the game include
Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu,
Ella Graper, and
Peyton Miller. Gonzalez-Abreu tallied 16 kills and Graper trailed close behind putting up 12, both highlighting the offense. Miller had a standout performance putting up 37 assists, a season best as it was the first time this season she served as a setter for IC.
At the service line, momentum shifted multiple times in favor of the Bombers as they were able to string multiple points together. Both
Peyton Miller and
Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu each tallied three aces apiece.
REACTION FROM HEAD COACH JOHAN DULFER
Today felt a bit like a chess match," remarked Dulfer. "I thought our blocking took over after we made some lineup changes in the third set and I am very proud of how we grew into the match. I thought this Eastern University squad were a formidable opponent and we loved playing them."
The Bombers will travel to Schenectady, N.Y. on Saturday September 30 to take on Union College in their Liberty League opener. First serve is slated for 2 p.m.
