The Ithaca College volleyball team got back to its winning ways against non-conference opponent SUNY Geneseo Sept. 16, emerging victorious in the fifth and final set following an arduous seesaw battle.
The first set saw another slow start, as the Bombers quickly fell behind 8–3, forcing head coach Johan Dulfer to call a much-needed timeout. The Bombers responded by going on a 10–2 run, highlighted by an impressive four service aces in a row from first-year setter Wesley Slavin. The Bombers made sure to close the set strong, as first-year outside hitter Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu lit up the scoresheet again with six kills in the first set, en route to a 25–17 Bombers victory.
The second set saw a great start, due in large part to senior outside hitter Alexandra Montgomery, who totaled three kills, propelling the Bombers ahead 15–10. However, the Knights were able to climb back, knotting the score multiple times, largely attributable to senior outside hitter Linda Rossi, who tallied a team-leading five points and five kills in the second frame. In the end, the Bombers slightly pulled away with the second set victory, 27–25.
In the third set, the Bombers had every reason to believe they were headed towards a sweep, as a result of senior middle blocker Jamie Koopman, who had herself yet another storybook performance, leading the South Hill squad with a commendable 22 points, and 17 kills on the day. Another key contributor was first-year outside hitter Naomi Clauhs, who finished her slate with eight kills and nine points. Although the Bombers led 23–20, they were unable to finish business in the third set, falling 29–27.
The fourth set was even more convincing that the Bombers would finally put this game on ice, leading 23–19, and then 24–21. Nonetheless, the Knights scored five unanswered, to force the rubber match.
Following a brief intermission, the Bombers came out continuing to spiral, failing to gain traction, trailing 7–5. Fortunately, that is where the bleeding stopped, as the South Hill squad went on a torrid 10–1 run, closing out the set with a 15–8 victory.
The Bombers were up for the challenge, saving their best for last, something coach Dulfer alluded to postgame.
“In the end, the way we pushed back in the fifth set was very impressive,” Dulfer said.
Koopman added on to Dulfer’s statement and said that the team knew they had a really important game in front of them, that they needed to lock in for.
“Today, there was more of a sense of urgency,” Koopman said. “We know when to tune in and really get serious.”
However, Dulfer did express his disdain with the team’s ineptitude to close out the game earlier.
“I actually thought we played better yesterday, and capitalized on more opportunities,” Dulfer said. “Throwing the results aside, we were a lot more careless with our opportunities today and allowed them [Geneseo] to take advantage of too many chances.”
The Bombers improved to 6–3 on the season, playing their next contest against Susquehanna University, at 6 p.m. Sept. 16, at Ben Light Gymnasium.
