The William Smith volleyball team will renew its rivalry with No. 20 Ithaca Wednesday as it welcomes the Bombers to Geneva for a rematch of last year's Liberty League title match. First serve between the Herons and the Bombers is set for 6 p.m. in Bristol Gymnasium.

Additionally, William Smith moved up in this week's AVCA national poll and is now receiving 42 votes. It is the fifth straight week the Herons have received votes. Liberty League foe, Ithaca, comes in at No. 20 in this week's poll.

Fans who can't make it to Bristol Gymnasium Wednesday can follow all the action with HWS All-Access Video and Live Stats. 

ABOUT THE HERONS: 

• William Smith enters the week on an 11-match win streak and is 14-2 overall, including a 4-0 record in Liberty League play. The Herons are coming off a 2-0 conference weekend that saw William Smith sweep Vassar and Bard.
• First-year setter Delainy Williams was named the conference's rookie of the week for the fourth time this season after two impressive performances. Junior outside hitter Malya Sayre was named to the weekly honor roll as well.
• Sayre leads the conference in kills per set (4.05) and points per set (4.72). She ranks 25th in the nation in kills per set and 20th in points per set. Classmates Marin Montagne (2.69) and Hope Von Dohlen (2.67) rank ninth and 10th in the conference in kills per set, respectively.
• Junior Jaylynn McCarthy has been lethal out of the middle, recording a .312 hitting percentage on the season which ranks second in the Liberty League.
• Williams has had an impressive start to her rookie campaign and leads the conference in assists per set (10.88). She ranks seventh in the nation in that category.
• First-year libero Kali Vanderhoof leads the Heron defense and ranks third in the Liberty League in digs per set (4.21). Sayre follows close behind with 3.55 digs per set, which ranks eighth in the conference.
• First-year middle blocker Arielle Newsome has recorded a team-leading 54 blocks (0.95/set), ranking second in the Liberty League. Von Dohlen has chipped in 39 blocks this season (0.67/set), which ranks ninth in the conference.
• As a team, the Herons rank among the nation's best in several categories. William Smith is 15th in the nation in assists per set (12.55) and 25th in kills per set (13.36).

ABOUT THE BOMBERS: 

• Ithaca enters the week at 14-3 overall and 4-0 in the Liberty League after defeating Vassar 3-1 on Saturday.
• Naomi Clauhs leads the Bombers offensively, averaging 3.24 kills per set which ranks second in the conference. She is followed by Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu who ranks fourth with 3.15 kills per set. Gonzalez-Abreu ranks fourth in the conference in points per set (3.51).
• Wesley Slavin runs Ithaca's offense from the setter position and ranks second in the conference and 11th in the nation in assists per set (10.26).
• Defensively, the Bombers are led by Ellie Benedict who averages 3.91 digs per set, which ranks sixth in the conference. She is followed by Julia Costa who ranks ninth with 3.13 digs per set.
• Josie Hampton ranks eighth in the conference in blocks this season, averaging 0.71 per set.
• As a team, Ithaca also ranks among the nation's best in several statistical categories. The Bombers rank 15th in the nation in hitting percentage (.250), 19th in kills per set (13.46) and 22nd in assists per set (12.32).

SERIES HISTORY:

• Wednesday will be the fourth meeting between William Smith and Ithaca. The Bombers have won all three previous meetings with the Herons.
• Last time they met, Ithaca defeated William Smith 3-0 in the 2023 Liberty League title match. Sayre led the Herons with 14 kills and 13 digs, while Montagne chipped in 12 kills and five digs.