MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – After fighting back from two sets down, the Wesleyan volleyball team couldn't complete the comeback as No. 19 ranked Ithaca defeated the Cardinals in five sets (19-25, 23-25, 25-16, 25-20, 9-15) on Saturday from Silloway Gymnasium. With the loss, Wesleyan drops to 12-8 on the season while the Bombers move to 17-5.
 
In defeat, Fiona LaCamera '27 made history, as she broke the single-match blocks record, totaling 14 total blocks (four solo, 10 assists) to move past Gabby Bennett '20 who recorded 12 blocks against Middlebury in 2016. In addition, Wesleyan's 20 total blocks broke the previous single-match team record of 19 set against Middlebury back in 2006.
 
Facing a spirited Ithaca side that had been swept by No. 22 Colby and No. 1 Juniata in Silloway Gymnasium prior to this match, Wesleyan couldn't recover from a 7-0 Bomber run that turned a 9-7 Cardinal lead into a 14-9 advantage for the visitors. The Cardinals got back to within two points of the lead on three separate occasions in the opening set, but couldn't pull level as Ithaca claimed a 25-19 set one win.
 
Neither side led by more than two points in the second set until Ithaca won five unanswered points to stake a 16-13 lead. Fighting back once again, Wesleyan used a 3-0 run to tie the score and after trading points back-and-forth, took a 23-22 lead after consecutive Lila Sayre '25 kills. However, after clawing all the way back to take the lead, the Cardinals saw Ithaca take back the serve and then were gifted an ace as the ball hit the net and landed on the Wesleyan end of the court. Now with a set point, the Bombers closed out a 25-23 win on a Naomi Clauhs kill to go ahead 2-0 in sets.
 
Ithaca started strong in the third set, leading 7-3, before the Cardinals answered back with a 13-5 run to lead 16-12. The strong play continued as Wesleyan closed the set with a 6-1 run to win 25-16. The Cardinals won the set convincingly despite seeing Ithaca record 12 kills compared to just eight for Wesleyan. The difference in the frame came down to blocking, as the Cardinals recorded six blocks while the Bombers had none.
 
The fourth set was back-and-forth in the early stages before a 10-1 run turned a 12-11 Ithaca lead into a commanding 21-13 Cardinal advantage. Wesleyan later led 24-15 before the Bombers put a scare in, winning five unanswered points, only to see the Cardinals force a fifth set after a 25-20 win. Siena Steines '28 recorded seven of the team's 13 kills, hitting .417 in the fourth set.
 
In the fifth and deciding set, neither side led by more than two points until a crucial 4-0 Bomber run extended into a 7-1 sequence as what was a tied 7-7 score saw Ithaca lead 14-8. The Cardinals staved off one match point, but Ithaca closed out the match with a 15-9 win. The Bombers totaled 11 kills against just one attack error in the fifth set.
 
LaCamera's 14 total blocks led a solid defensive effort from the Cardinals who held Ithaca to .127 hitting in the match. Steines led the offense with 12 kills while Sophie Corbeil '28 totaled 11 for the match. Sayre went for seven kills and hit .308 in three sets played.
 
Elliana Moreno '27 turned in another stellar performance along the back row, going for 26 digs which is a new career-high for the sophomore libero. Carly Grumet '28 added 14 digs while Adrienne Nguyen '28 tallied 11.
 
Ali Landa '25 added 31 assists, nine digs, six total blocks, and two kills at the setter position. Bianca Gonya '25 added six blocks (two solo) with four kills.
 
Wesleyan is back in action on Halloween as the Cardinals play host to MIT on Thursday at 6 PM.