UNION, N.J. – The No. 12 Ithaca College volleyball team opened play at the Kean/William Paterson Invitational with a straight-set victory over Kean University Friday afternoon. The Bombers maintained their momentum throughout the match, overcoming a pair of competitive sets to secure a 3-0 sweep and extend their winning streak to seven matches.
Ithaca came out strong in the opening set, establishing control early and putting pressure on the Cougars with an efficient offensive attack. The Bombers maintained their advantage throughout the frame, pulling away for a convincing 25-16 victory to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
The second set presented a tougher challenge as Kean responded and kept the score close. Both teams battled back and forth, trading points as the Cougars looked to even the match. With the set coming down to the final points, Ithaca remained composed under pressure and secured a 26-24 victory to move within one set of completing the sweep.
With momentum on their side, the Bombers looked to close out the match in the third set. Kean continued to compete, keeping the frame tight and forcing Ithaca to battle for every point. The Bombers answered the challenge down the stretch, finishing strong to earn a 25-22 win and complete the straight-set sweep.
Naomi Clauhs led the Ithaca offense with a match-high 17 kills while recording an impressive .483 hitting percentage.
Wesley Slavin facilitated the attack with 19 assists and made an impact from the service line, recording a team-high four aces. Defensively,
Amaya Parnell paced the Bombers with 10 digs to help anchor the back row.
The victory gives the No. 12 Bombers a strong start to the invitational as they look to build on their momentum heading into the second day of competition. After controlling the opening set and holding off Kean in two closely contested frames, Ithaca will look to carry that momentum into Saturday's matches.
The Bombers return to the court Saturday for the second day of the Kean/William Paterson Invitational, facing William Paterson University and Manhattanville University. Ithaca's first match is scheduled for 11 a.m. as the Bombers look to extend their winning streak to eight matches.
