ITHACA, N.Y. — The No. 12-ranked Ithaca College volleyball team opened the 2026 Bomber Invitational presented by The Hotel Ithaca with a hard-fought five-set battle against No. 13-ranked Carnegie Mellon University, ultimately falling to the Tartans 3-2 on their home court.
The two nationally ranked teams battled throughout the match, with momentum shifting between the Bombers and Tartans and neither team willing to give up an advantage.
Carnegie Mellon opened the match with a strong performance in the first set, earning a 25-22 victory to take an early 1-0 lead. The Bombers responded in the second set, controlling the pace and earning a 25-17 victory to even the match at 1-1.
The third set was the closest of the match, as both teams battled point-for-point. The Tartans ultimately came out on top 26-24, taking a 2-1 lead and putting the Bombers one set away from defeat.
With their backs against the wall, the Bombers answered in the fourth set. Ithaca came out with strong energy and regained control, taking the set 25-17 to even the match at 2-2 and force a deciding fifth set.
The fifth set featured another competitive battle between the two ranked teams. Carnegie Mellon was able to gain the advantage late, taking the final set 15-8 and securing the 3-2 victory.
Despite the loss, Ithaca put together a strong showing against another nationally ranked opponent and continued to battle throughout all five sets.
Offensively,
Naomi Clauhs led the Bombers with 34 kills, providing a consistent presence at the net throughout the match.
Addison Leadbetter recorded a game-high two aces, while Claus, Leadbetter and
Elena Chappell each finished with five blocks each.
Setter
Wesley Slavin recorded 51 assists, helping lead the Bombers' offensive attack.
Defensively,
Renee McGowan recorded a team-high 19 digs, while
Jamie Low added 17 digs of her own to help keep the Bombers in the match.
The Bombers will look to bounce back on the second and final day of the 2026 Bomber Invitational. Ithaca will face No. 9-ranked Johns Hopkins at 11 a.m. before taking on the receiving-votes Babson College Beavers to close out the tournament.
