ITHACA, N.Y. – The 12
th ranked Ithaca College volleyball team went 2-0 on the final day of the Ithaca Invitational presented by The Hotel Ithaca, taking down number nine John Hopkins 3-0 to kick off the day, before closing out with a 3-0 sweep of a Babson College squad that is receiving votes in the national poll.
No. 12 Ithaca 3, No. 9 Johns Hopkins 0 (25-22, 26-24, 25-15)
The Bombers battled through a competitive opening two sets before pulling away in the third to secure the statement victory on their home court.
Ithaca entered the matchup looking to bounce back from yesterday and opened the day facing one of its toughest opponents of the weekend in the ninth-ranked Blue Jays. From the opening serve, both teams traded points and momentum, with neither side able to create much separation.
The Bombers ultimately came out on top in the opening set, earning a 25-22 victory. Ithaca stayed composed during the back-and-forth set and capitalized on key opportunities late to take an early 1-0 lead.
Johns Hopkins responded in the second set and appeared to be in control, taking a commanding 20-12 lead. Rather than letting the deficit determine the outcome, the Bombers battled back point by point. Ithaca's offense and defense came together down the stretch as the Bombers erased the eight-point deficit and eventually tied the set.
The momentum continued to shift in Ithaca's favor as the teams battled through extra points. With the set tied at 24-24, the Bombers remained composed and finished off the comeback with a 26-24 victory.
Naomi Clauhs came through with an impressive kill to seal the set and give Ithaca a 2–0 advantage heading into the third.
With the match within reach, the Bombers came out with their strongest performance of the afternoon in the third set. Ithaca quickly established control and never looked back, defeating the Blue Jays 25-15 to complete the three-set sweep.
Clauhs led the Bombers offensively with a team-high 11 kills, providing a consistent presence throughout the match.
Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu followed with nine kills of her own while also contributing nine digs on the defensive end.
Amaya Parnell paced the Bombers with 11 assists, while
Wesley Slavin added nine assists. Slavin also made an impact from the service line, leading all players with three aces.
Defensively,
Jamie Low recorded a team-high 13 digs to help keep the Blue Jays' attack in check, while Gonzalez-Abreu added nine digs.
The sweep gives Ithaca another significant win over a nationally ranked opponent and highlights the Bombers' ability to remain composed in difficult situations. The second-set comeback was particularly important, as Ithaca overcame a sizable deficit against a top-10 opponent before carrying that momentum into the decisive third set.
No. 12 Ithaca 3, (RV) Babson 0 (25-20, 27-25, 25-14)
Ithaca opened the match with strong offensive execution and jumped out to an early lead in the first set. The Bombers maintained their composure as Babson attempted to stay within striking distance, but Ithaca continued to create separation late in the set. The Bombers ultimately secured the opening frame, 25-20, taking an early 1–0 lead in the match.
The second set proved to be the most competitive of the afternoon. Both teams battled back and forth throughout the frame, with neither side able to pull away for long. As the set reached its final points, the Bombers remained composed in the pressure-filled moments. Ithaca fought through the tight finish and came away with a 27-25 victory, putting the Bombers one set away from completing the sweep.
With momentum on their side, the Bombers came out aggressively in the third set. Ithaca established control early and continued to build on its lead as the set progressed. The Bombers' offense remained consistent while the defense limited Babson's opportunities to make a comeback. Ithaca pulled away in the final stretch to claim a commanding 25-14 victory and complete the 3-0 sweep.
Jayden Wiese led the Bombers offensively with eight kills, providing a consistent presence at the net throughout the match.
Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu and
Addison Leadbetter each contributed seven kills, helping Ithaca maintain a balanced attack and keep pressure on the Babson defense.
Leadbetter also made an impact defensively at the net, recording a team-high seven blocks. Her presence helped the Bombers slow down Babson's attack and contributed to Ithaca's strong defensive performance throughout the three-set match.
Wesley Slavin directed the Bombers' offense with 13 assists, helping keep the attack moving and creating opportunities for Ithaca's hitters. On the defensive end,
Karina Garcia recorded a team-high eight digs, helping the Bombers keep rallies alive and limit Babson's offensive opportunities.
The sweep gave the Bombers a strong finish to their home tournament and capped off a weekend of competitive volleyball against nationally ranked opponents. Ithaca's 2-1 finish provides the team with momentum as it looks ahead to the next challenge on its schedule.
The Bombers will hit the road next weekend as they travel to take part in the NYU Invitational, playing No. 7 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wentworth Institute of Technology and hosting No. 25 New York University. They will kick off the weekend at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18 against the Engineers.
