ITHACA, N.Y. - The nationally ranked No. 19 Ithaca College volleyball team celebrated Senior Day on Saturday afternoon as the program celebrated the careers of Ellie Benedict, Josie Hampton, Samantha Klemm, Peyton Miller, Anaya Prince and Faith Sabatier. The Bombers welcomed both the SUNYAC regular season champion Cortland and the Empire 8 conference regular season champion to the South Hill for a tri-match. The Bombers were swept in three sets (25-19, 25-23, 25-23) by (RV) Cortland Red Dragons but returned the favor in the nightcap besting Nazareth (25-17, 25-15, 25-17).
 
VS. (RV) CORTLAND (19-25, 23-25, 23-25)
 
The Bombers got off to a rough start in the first set with Cortland scoring the first five points of the set; they got it started with three kills, an attack error and a service ace. The Bombers would record their first point of the set with a kill from Josie Hampton. 
 
The Bombers struggled to get any long runs sustained within this set, only recording one five-point run, and this was the only run of more than two points. The five-point run consisted of three attack errors and two service aces from Peyton Miller. The run got the Bombers within four points, but it was not enough as they dropped the set 25-19.
 
Ithaca got its first lead of the day early in the second set, getting two of the first three points with an opponent attack error and a kill from Faith Sabatier. After that the Bombers exchanged points with the Red Dragons for the majority of the second set until the Bombers got their first three-point run to tie the game 17-17. The run included a kill from Naomi Clauhs, a second kill from Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu, and a service ace from Samantha Klemm.
 
Right after the Bombers got their three-point run, Cortland put together two separate three-point runs of their own to help get them to a score of 24-19. Ithaca challenged Cortland late with a four-point run that had two attack errors, and a kill from Clauhs and Gonzalez-Abreu to get close. However, Cortland was able to finish the set 25-23.
 
Cortland got the first point of the third set, but Ithaca bounced right back, recording a three-point run to take a 3-1 lead. Cortland recorded a service error to start the run, followed by a kill from Gonzalez-Abreu, and a service ace from Hampton. The Red Dragons then took the lead right back with a three-point run of their own.
 
The Bombers and Red Dragons traded points, until late in the set with both teams putting together lengthy runs. Ithaca got the last run of the set to bring the score to 24-23, but Cortland held on for the second straight set to win 25-23, recording the sweep.
 
Sophomore Naomi Clauhs finished as the top IC hitter recording 12 kills, with classmate Wesley Slavin recording 24 assists and 13 digs for the double-double.
 
VS. NAZARETH (25-17, 25-15, 25-17)
 
Nazareth got on the board first, taking advantage of two early Bomber errors to secure a brief lead. However, Ithaca's offense soon ignited, with standout efforts from Faith Sabatier and Naomi Clauhs, who each recorded five kills in the first set. The Bombers surged to a commanding 10-point lead, closing the set at 25-17 as the Golden Flyers struggled to respond.
 
In the second set, the Bombers struck first, capitalizing on a Nazareth error. The teams then battled back and forth until Nazareth managed a slim 8-6 lead. Ithaca quickly responded with a six-point run powered by kills from Anaya Price, Clauhs, and Sabatier, establishing a lead they held for the rest of the set. The Bombers finished strong with a five-point run that included kills by Clauhs and Sabatier and a service ace from Wesley Slavin, taking the set 25-15.
 
The Bombers maintained their momentum in the third set, jumping to a 2-0 lead with kills from Josie Hampton and Sabatier. Although Nazareth put up a fight, tying the score at 9-9 and briefly pulling ahead 12-9, Ithaca responded with kills from Ella Graper, Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu, and Jayden Wiese. The Bombers maintained control and closed the match with a 25-17 set win.
 
Ithaca's offense was led by Clauhs, who tallied 12 kills, and Sabatier with 11. Wesley Slavin contributed 17 assists, while Maddie Cox added 15. The Bombers dominated offensively, registering 48 kills compared to Nazareth's 19. On defense, Ellie Benedict anchored the team with 19 digs.
 
The Bombers will await and see who their opponent will be in the semifinal matchup of the Liberty League Championships. As the No. 1 seed, Ithaca will host both semifinal matchups in Ben Light Gymnasium on Friday, November 15.