SCRANTON, Pa. — The No. 18 Ithaca College Bombers delivered one of the most impressive wins of their young season Saturday, sweeping No. 3-ranked Berry College, 3-0, at the Scranton Invitational. Behind late-set poise, balanced scoring and strong defensive execution, the Bombers controlled key moments throughout the match and handed the Vikings a rare straight-set loss.
From the opening serve, Ithaca showed poise and determination against one of the top teams in the country. The Bombers and Vikings battled throughout the first set, trading leads and answering each other's runs. Neither team was able to pull away, creating a tense finish that came down to the final points.
Ithaca remained composed in the closing moments and secured a 27-25 victory to take an early 1-0 lead.
The Bombers carried that momentum into the second set, continuing to apply pressure from the service line and at the net. Ithaca established control early and maintained its advantage as the set progressed. Berry attempted to close the gap, but the Bombers responded with timely plays and strong execution, earning a 25-20 win and moving one set away from completing the sweep.
With the match on the line, the third set once again featured a back-and-forth battle. Berry pushed to extend the match, but Ithaca refused to let the Vikings regain momentum. The Bombers stayed focused through another close finish, closing out the set, 25-23, and completing the 3-0 sweep over the No. 3-ranked Vikings.
Naomi Clauhs led the Bombers offensively with 12 kills, while
Addison Leadbetter added 10 kills.
Brianna Owens was especially efficient at the net, leading the team with a .563 hitting percentage. Ithaca's balanced offensive attack helped the Bombers maintain pressure throughout all three sets and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Wesley Slavin directed the Bombers' offense throughout the match, recording 36 assists across the three sets. Slavin also contributed 11 digs, making an impact on both sides of the ball.
Jamie Low led Ithaca defensively with 15 digs, helping keep rallies alive and giving the Bombers opportunities to transition into offense.
The victory over Berry marks a significant early-season win for Ithaca and highlights the Bombers' ability to compete with one of the nation's top-ranked programs. After three hard-fought sets, Ithaca walked away with a statement 3-0 victory and valuable momentum at the Scranton Invitational.
The Bombers will return to action Sunday for two more matches in the tournament. Ithaca will face No. 13-ranked Tufts before taking on host Scranton, giving the team another opportunity to build on its performance against Berry.
With two challenging matches ahead, the Bombers will look to carry their confidence, defensive intensity and balanced offensive attack into the remainder of the invitational.
