By: Christopher J. Kilmer, Assistant Athletics Director, Athletics Communications

MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – Graduate student Ella Koelb (Auburn, N.H.) hammered 11 kills and added 10 assists, but #12 Ithaca College topped Plymouth State University, 3-0 (25-22, 25-14, 25-17), in the opening round of the NCAA Women's Volleyball Tournament hosted by #17 Wesleyan University at Silloway Gymnasium on Thursday afternoon.
 
Plymouth State (23-8) made its second NCAA Tournament appearance – and first since 2004 – after capturing the Little East Conference title last weekend. Ithaca (27-4) advances to Friday's (Nov. 21) regional semifinal where they will face the winner of Wesleyan vs. NYU.
 
The upset-minded Panthers went toe-to-toe with the Bombers in the opening set. Junior Annalyn Cahill (Mystic, Conn.) delivered back-to-back kills to PSU a 21-18 lead before a late Ithaca surge stole the frame, 25-22.
 
Sophomore Danielle Emerson (Biddeford, Maine) ripped an ace to push PSU ahead 10-9 in set two, but Ithaca responded with a long service run to take control. The Bombers carried the momentum into the third set, building a comfortable lead early. Koelb sparked a late push with consecutive kills and senior Veronika Castro Rodriguez (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) added a strong service run to trim the margin, but Ithaca ultimately closed out the match.
 
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 0, #12 Ithaca 3
  • Plymouth State (23-8)
  • #12 Ithaca (27-4)

How it Happened:

• Freshman Sya McKay (Somersworth, N.H.) opened the match with a first-ball kill, but Ithaca used a six-point run to go up 8-4. PSU clawed back, pulling even at 13-13 with strong serving from Emerson and a McKay block. Sophomore Sydney Riley (Haverhill, Mass.) took over with two blocks and a kill to put the Panthers ahead, 19-17. Cahill's kills stretched the lead to 21-18, but Ithaca answered with a 7-1 run to take the set, 25-22.
• Ithaca jumped ahead 7–3 before PSU chipped away. Cahill sparked a 5–2 push, and Emerson's ace gave the Panthers a 10–9 lead. The Bombers responded with a decisive 12–1 run to regain control. McKay and Riley added late kills, but PSU couldn't recover in a 25–14 loss.
• Ithaca raced out to an 8–2 lead to force an early PSU timeout. Riley delivered a kill out of the break, though the Bombers extended the margin to 18–4. Koelb energized the Panthers with back-to-back kills, and freshman Alice Borriello Diaz (Toa Baja, Puerto Rico) added two more during a Castro Rodriguez service run, though Ithaca held on to win the frame, 25–17.

By the Numbers:

• Koelb led PSU with 11 kills, 10 assists, two digs and a block.
• McKay posted six kills, hit .333 and added a block.
• Riley contributed five kills and four blocks.
• Cahill tallied five kills.
• Emerson finished with 11 assists and the team's lone ace.
• Castro Rodriguez anchored the back row with 14 digs, while junior Christa Imbriano (Wakefield, Mass.) and graduate student Ava Duymazlar (Center Harbor, N.H.) added nine and seven, respectively.
• PSU out-blocked Ithaca 5-3.
• The Panthers capped their second NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.