HUNTINGDON, Pa. – The No. 5-ranked Ithaca College women's volleyball team continued its impressive late-season run Saturday afternoon, traveling to Pennsylvania to take on No. 9 Juniata College and Wittenberg University on the second day of competition.
No. 5 Ithaca 3, No. 9 Juniata 1 (25-20, 25-23, 22-25, 25-13)
In a matchup featuring two nationally ranked programs, the Bombers rose to the challenge, earning a hard-fought four-set victory over the Eagles to add another ranked win to their season.
Ithaca came out strong in the opening set, establishing its presence early and using a balanced offensive attack to take the first set, 25-20. The Bombers continued to build momentum in the second set, battling through a competitive contest. With both teams fighting for every point, Ithaca maintained its composure down the stretch to secure a 25-23 victory and take a 2-0 lead in the match.
Juniata responded in the third set, looking to stay alive and force a fifth set. The Eagles found their rhythm offensively and managed to pull away late, handing the Bombers a 25-22 set loss. Despite dropping the third set, Ithaca remained composed and entered the fourth determined to close out the match.
The Bombers responded in dominant fashion, controlling the fourth set from the opening serve. Ithaca limited Juniata's offensive opportunities while continuing to capitalize on its own scoring chances. The strong all-around performance allowed the Bombers to pull away and secure a convincing 25-13 victory, completing the four-set win over the No. 9-ranked Eagles.
Leading the way offensively for the Bombers was
Naomi Clauhs, who recorded a team-high 14 kills.
Brianna Owen followed with 10 kills, providing another consistent offensive option throughout the match.
Wesley Slavin directed the Ithaca offense with 31 assists, helping distribute the ball and keep the Bombers' attack balanced.
Defensively,
Jamie Low anchored the back row with a team-high 17 digs, keeping rallies alive and helping Ithaca maintain control during key stretches of the match. At the net,
Elena Chappell delivered an outstanding defensive performance, finishing with nine total blocks to disrupt Juniata's attack and limit the Eagles' scoring opportunities.
The victory over No. 9 Juniata marked another impressive result for the No. 5 Bombers, who continue to demonstrate their ability to compete against some of the nation's top programs.
No. 5 Ithaca 3, Wittenberg 0 (25-20, 29-27, 25-16)
The Bombers opened the match with strong energy, taking control early in the first set and securing a 25-20 victory.
Wittenberg responded in the second set, pushing Ithaca into a tightly contested battle that featured several momentum shifts. The two teams continued trading points late into the set, but the Bombers remained composed under pressure and came away with a hard-fought 29-27 win to take a commanding 2-0 lead.
Carrying that momentum into the third set, Ithaca found its rhythm offensively and defensively, creating separation on the scoreboard and closing out the match with a convincing 25-16 victory to complete the three-set sweep.
Leading the way offensively for the Bombers was
Naomi Clauhs, who recorded a team-high 14 kills.
Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu followed with 10 kills, while
Brianna Owen contributed nine to help power Ithaca's attack.
Wesley Slavin orchestrated the offense with a match-high 36 assists and added three service aces to lead the Bombers in that category.
Defensively, Ithaca continued to make its presence felt at the net.
Elena Chappell led the team with five blocks, while Gonzalez-Abreu added four. Gonzalez-Abreu also paced the defensive effort in the back row, recording a team-high 18 digs.
Jamie Low followed closely with 17 digs, helping the Bombers limit Wittenberg's offensive opportunities.
With the victory, Ithaca officially wrapped up its regular-season schedule at 25-3, continuing to build momentum heading into postseason play. The Bombers enter the Liberty League Tournament ranked No. 1 in the conference and No. 5 nationally, positioning themselves for another championship run.
The Bombers closed out the regular season with an 18-match winning streak. Ithaca will host the Liberty League semifinal and championship matches, which are set to begin next Friday, November 13.
