V'ball Bombers Are Regional Champs

The team beats its rival, Cortland, in the most satisfying win of a most satisfying season.

For the past seven seasons the Ithaca College volleyball team has been invited to compete in the New York regional tournament. In each of the last two seasons Ithaca's dreams of advancing to the quarterfinals have been dashed by regional rival State University of New York College at Cortland.

At this year's tournament Ithaca received a bye in the first round and then defeated Skidmore 15-3, 15-9, and 15-6. Next up: Cortland. "I felt that the women were ready to challenge Cortland for the regional title," said eight-year head coach Janet Donovan (left). "If everyone played to their potential and played together, we could win."

But the Bombers had dropped two five-game matches to Cortland earlier in the season. Then the rivals met in the regional final. Ithaca lost the opening game 2-15 and the following game 6-15. The team was down 5-0 in the third game. "I knew we were more talented, although Cortland was more consistent. We needed to play the best match of the season, and in the end we did," said Donovan.

The Bombers fought back to defeat the Red Dragons 15-13, 15-4, and 15-12, with the match point coming on a block by middle hitter Robin Dalton. The team advanced to the quarterfinal match for the first time since 1995.

In the quarterfinal match the Bombers fell 3-0 (13-15, 7-15, and 11-15) to south regional champion Trinity University (which went on to lose to Central in the national championship).

In a season filled with top-20 ranked competitors, Ithaca compiled a 28-8 regular-season record. The team took home four tournament championships and was runner-up twice. The Bombers won the inaugural Empire Eight tournament, sweeping the first four matches and defeating Rochester Institute of Technology 3-1 in the championship. Ithaca swept the competition in 21 of its 28 victories. Four players were voted a total of seven times to all-tournament teams (seniors Robin Dalton and Rebecca Helmetsie and sophomore Jen Salmon, twice each; and junior Karen McCord, once).

"Considering we went 18-20 the previous season, I was very pleased with how this team played," said Donovan. "No one on the team had any experience getting past a regional championship, and they all accepted the challenges and played very well."

Leading the 1999 squad was a group of all-region selections. Helmetsie (right) became only the second Ithaca player to record 1,000 career digs and 1,000 career kills, and she led the team in kills per game. Dalton, a transfer and the team's block leader, handled the midseason transition from outside hitter to middle hitter with ease. Salmon, a setter and a two-time all-region selection, moved into fourth place on the career list and third place on the single-season list. Newcomer Jessica Raymond, one of only two freshmen voted to the New York all-region team, led the team in attack percentage. Other contributors to the team were junior outside hitters McCord (left) and Stephanie Raefski and junior defensive specialist Gail Shippee.

The awards were not limited to the players. Donovan was voted the New York region coach of the year, an honor she had received in 1993 and 1994 as well. She reached her 250th win at Ithaca five matches into the season and now totals 275 victories, 31 shy of leader Sara Rich.