ITHACA, N.Y. – The Union College women's volleyball team opened up Liberty League play on Friday night, dropping a 3-0 (25-20, 25-19, 25-23) match to preseason favorite Ithaca College.
 
Union (7-6, 0-1 Liberty League) had a hard time hitting on the night, as the Dutchwomen put down just 28 kills and hit .114 on their 105 attacks. The defense did its job against a solid Ithaca (9-5, 1-0 Liberty League) front line, however, limiting the Bombers to .155 hitting and recording eight blocks.
 
Junior Stephanie Libonati led the Dutchwomen with nine kills on 21 errorless attempts (.429 hitting) to go with a match-high five blocks. Classmates Gillian Gore and Lara Atalay added seven kills each, while Gore also chipped in a match-best 14 digs.
 
Union did not trail for the opening half of the first set, fending off six ties to remain in front at 13-12 until five straight points gave Ithaca its first lead at 17-13. The visitors got back within one at 20-19 and forced an Ithaca timeout, but the home team closed with five of the final six points to take a one-set lead.
 
Ithaca jumped out to an early lead in the second stanza and Union could never get back to even in falling behind by two sets. The Bombers again started strong in the third set, but Union clawed its way back to tie the score at 17-all. The set was still tied at 21 apiece before Ithaca earned three points to bring up match point at 24-22; the visitors staved off one match point thanks to a kill by junior Katie Moss, but an Ithaca kill finished off the set and match.
 
Union will continue Liberty League play tomorrow, when the Dutchwomen travel to Rochester Institute of Technology for a 2 p.m. match.