PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The No. 18 Ithaca College volleyball team opened its 2026 season in winning fashion Tuesday night, earning a 3-1 victory over receiving votes St. John Fisher in the Bombers' first match of the season.
Ithaca (1-0) took the opening two sets before the Cardinals fought back to extend the match. The Bombers ultimately responded with a strong fourth set to secure the victory and begin the season with a statement win.
The opening set proved to be a competitive battle from the start. The Bombers fell behind early but quickly worked their way back into the set, with neither team allowing the other to gain much separation. Ithaca continued to battle through the back-and-forth action, eventually earning the narrow 25-23 victory to take an early 1-0 lead in the match.
After surviving the closely contested first set, the Bombers came out with much more momentum in the second. Ithaca was relentless on both sides of the net, taking control early and never looking back on its way to a dominant 25-12 win to give Ithaca a commanding two-set advantage.
St. John Fisher, however, refused to go away quietly. Facing a 2-0 deficit, the Cardinals responded with one of their strongest performances of the match in the third set. SJF took the set 25-16, cutting into the Bombers' lead and forcing a fourth set.
With the match on the line, Ithaca showed the resilience that allowed the team to earn a preseason ranking among the nation's best. The Bombers regained control of the momentum in the fourth set, responding after the Cardinals' comeback attempt and earning a 25-19 victory to close out the match.
Several Bombers played key roles in the season-opening win.
Naomi Clauhs led the Ithaca offense with a team-high 14 kills, consistently providing a powerful attacking presence throughout the match. Gabby Gonzalez-Abreu followed closely behind with 11 kills while also making an impact defensively with 12 digs.
Wesley Slavin directed the Bombers' offense and finished with 32 assists, helping Ithaca maintain a balanced and effective attack throughout the four sets.
On the defensive side, Jaime Low led the way with a team-high 15 digs. Gonzalez-Abreu added her 12 digs to help anchor Ithaca's defensive effort and contribute on both sides of the court.
The season-opening victory came against a competitive St. John Fisher squad that entered the matchup receiving votes in the national rankings. After being tested throughout the four-set battle, the Bombers were able to come away with a strong road victory and an important first win of the season.
Ithaca will now look to carry that momentum into its first tournament of the year. The Bombers will travel to Scranton this weekend for the Scranton Invitational, where they are scheduled to face No. 3 Berry College, No. 13 Tufts University and the University of Scranton.
After opening the season with a hard-fought win over a quality opponent, the Bombers will look to continue building momentum as their season gets underway. The Bombers are 1-0 and have started their season in true Bomber fashion: on top.
Â
