The Bombers remained among the sport's elite group by advancing once more to the NCAA Division III semifinals. For the 2nd consecutive year Ithaca placed 4th in the nation. The Bombers fell to eventual national champion Washington (Missouri), 3-0 in the semifinals, and to final-four host Wisconsin-Whitewater, 3-0 in the third-place match.
Coach Janet Grzymkowski's club, which for most of the year owned the number-three ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III poll, opened 1995 with 19 straight wins. The Bombers also put together a 13-match victory string on their way to the national semifinals. Included in the latter stretch were two 3-0 triumphs over Binghamton and Rochester in the NCAA New York regional and a come-from-behind 3-2 decision against Springfield (Massachusetts) in the national quarterfinals.
This fall senior outside hitter Bonnie McDowell, who was named to the AVCA Division III All-America First Team, paced Ithaca in seven different statistical categories, including kill average (4.9) and service aces (70). She also set a school record for kills in a season (614). Sophomore middle hitter Heidi Nichols received a nod on the all-America second team. She led the blue and gold in total blocks (146) and hitting percentage (.343).
Receiving AVCA all-New York region laurels were freshman setter Jill Finochio, who registered the second-highest single-season assist total in Bomber annals (1,306), and sophomore middle hitter Melissa Gilbert, who had 214 kills in 1995.
McDowell leaves the Bomber high-netter program having played on teams that combined for a 168-34 record (an .832 winning percentage). She also ranks 4th all-time at Ithaca in kills (1,348) and kill attempts (3,306).
No. Name Season Games Kills 1. Bonnie McDowell 1995 125 614 2. Tracy Swyers 1994 140 601 3. Lisa Black 1993 148 550 4. Rhonda Faunce 1983 117 482 5. Lisa Black 1994 136 462