Box Score
Ithaca 3, Ohio Wesleyan 1

Senior right-side hitter Melissa Murray (Chardon/Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin) powered the Ohio Wesleyan offense, but 23rd-ranked Ithaca defeated the Bishops during the second day of the Wid Guisler Invitational, hosted by Juniata College on Saturday in Huntington, Pa.

The Bombers defeated the Bishops by scores of 25-18, 25-10, 21-25, 25-22.

Ithaca bolted to an 8-2 lead with Ella Graper contributing 3 kills and 3 blocks.  The Bishops chipped away at the deficit and closed to within 18-16 on a kill by junior right-side hitter Grace Cummings (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne), but the Bombers finished the set with a 7-2 run that included 2 kills apiece from Naomi Clauhs and Faith Sabatier.

Ohio Wesleyan wiped out a 6-2 deficit in the second set, getting kills from senior outside hitter Kaitlyn Peters (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead) and Murray on the way to tying the score at 6.  Ithaca countered with a 4-0 run of its own to retake the lead, then went on a 14-2 run to close out the set, highlighted by Anaya Prince's 2 blocks and 2 kills.

The Bishops trailed, 19-16, in the third set, but junior middle blocker Ava Kutilek (Wilmette, Ill/New Trier) and Murray each recorded consecutive kills as Ohio Wesleyan battled back to take a 23-19 lead before Peters recorded back-to-back kills to end the set and force a fourth set.

The Bombers led by a 13-7 count after a Clauhs kill in the fourth set, only to see the Bishops close to within 23-21 on a block by Peters and senior middle blocker Claire Solberg (Huron), then make it 23-22 with a Murray kill.  Ithaca answered with a kill from Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu before getting the final point on an attack error.

Murray led the Bishops with 12 kills.  Junior setter Olivia Osuna (Orlando, Fla./Phillips) finished with 20 assists.  Solberg had a team-high 3 blocks.  Senior defensive specialist Neah White (Indianapolis, Ind./North Central) recorded 16 digs.

Solberg represented the Bishops on the all-tournament team.

Box Score