Five-Set Win For Ithaca and Houghton
ITHACA 3, ELMIRA 2
In the Empire 8 opener for both teams, the Ithaca College volleyball team defeated Elmira in five sets by scores of 25-27, 25-19, 25-19, 21-25, 16-14. The Bombers held off three match points in the decisive set, and won the final five points to claim the victory. Ithaca is 8-3 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8. Elmira is 2-8 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
A close opening set was claimed by Elmira. The Soaring Eagles led 24-21 before Ithaca rallied to tie the set with three straight points. Elmira eventually went on to win the set on two kills. Ithaca won the second and third sets by identical 25-19 scores, but Elmira answered with a 25-21 win in the fourth set.
In the decisive fifth set, Elmira led most of the way, and held an 8-6 advantage at the changeover. Elmira went on to leads 13-8 before effective serving from
Myan Idziur brought Ithaca closer. Elmira served with a 14-11 lead, but Ithaca won the point on a kill from
Joelle Goldstein for the side out.
Maggie Mutschler then served four straight points, including an ace to start the run, and
Rylie Bean smartly played a ball inside the back line to end a long rally that gave Ithaca a 15-14 lead. Mutschler served one more point as Ithaca wrapped things up on an attack error by the Soaring Eagles for the 16-14 win.
The Bombers totaled 49 kills in the match, led by 18 from Bean.
Joelle Goldstein had 11 kills.
Molly Brown had 39 assists in the match. Defensive leaders for Ithaca included
Kayla Gromen with 25 digs and
Caroline Gerulskis and
Katie Hartman with seven block assists each. Brown added 12 digs and Bean had 10 digs. Brown served three aces and Idziur had two.
Elmira was led by a trio of players who each recorded double-digit kills.
Kierstin Derr'16 led the way with 18 kills, followed by
Paola Ortiz'16, who had 15 kills, and Blinkinsop, who had 10. Setting up the attack nicely for the Soaring Eagles was
Sami Hanes '16 who tallied 46 assists. Defensively
Kelsey Ross'16 topped the team in digs with 21, followed by 16 by Ortiz, and 12 by Hanes.
Ashley Heiman'16 made her presence known in the middle recording six blocks, one solo block and five block assists.
HOUGHTON 3, Pitt-Bradford 2
In a close match against the Panthers of the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, the Houghton Volleyball team clinches the victory, beating Pitt-Bradford by the score of 3-2.
The opening set could not have been much closer between the Panthers and Highlanders. Pitt-Bradford was able to sneak past Houghton with a 25-23 victory. While the Panthers set the tone for the match, the Highlanders were able to come back in set 2, winning the set 25-22.
Tied 1-1 in the match, the Highlanders would go into the 3rd set with confidence. With Houghton being able to supply a little more "cushion" in their lead, they came out on top 25-17.
Yet again, Pitt-Bradford was able to tie the match 2-2 by claiming the 4th set. Houghton would then go the distance in the 15-13--5th set victory over the Panthers.
Hattie Burgher,
Hannah Compeau, and
Anna Coryell all had double-doubles; Burgher with 23 kills (attack 33.9%) and 14 digs, Compeau with 13 kills and 21 digs, and Coryell with 39 assists and 14 digs.