ITHACA, N.Y.—Junior Malya Sayre led the William Smith volleyball team as it fell 3-0 to No. 22 Ithaca this afternoon in the Liberty League title match in Ben Light Gymnasium. The second-seeded Herons fall to 22-6 on the season, while the top-seeded Bombers move to 22-6 and earn the conference's automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championships for the third straight season.

Ithaca used its home court advantage this afternoon and used the energy from its fans to grab the early momentum and cruise to a sweep of William Smith. The Bombers combined for 33 kills (.329) and held the Herons to just 22 kills (-.033). It was the first time all season that William Smith had been held to a negative hitting percentage. The Bombers found crucial points from the service line and from its block to secure their third-straight Liberty League title.

Sayre led William Smith this afternoon with 11 kills (.114) and three digs. She was followed by classmates Jaylynn McCarthy and Hope Von Dohlen with three kills each. First-year libero Kali Vanderhoof tallied a team-leading nine digs in the loss.

Gabriela Gonzalez-Abreu led the Bombers with a match-high 12 kills (.345), three digs and three service aces. Wesley Slavin recorded 27 assists in the sweep for Ithaca.

MATCH MOMENTS:

• The first set saw both teams put down eight kills each. The errors plagued William Smith as it racked up nine in the opening set. Ithaca's clean play propelled the Bombers to a convincing 25-10 win to open the championship match.
• The Herons responded well in the second set and jumped out to an 8-1 lead after a strong service run from first-year Delainy Williams. Ithaca stormed back with a 10-3 run of their own to tie the game at 11-11. The Bombers continued on their momentum and used a service ace and a Heron hitting error to extend their lead to 2-0 with a 25-15 win in set two.
• Ithaca closed out the sweep with an impressive offensive showing in the third set as they combined for a match-high 17 kills as a team. Gonzalez-Abreu and Faith Sabatier tallied five kills each to lead the Bombers to a 25-15 win to secure the championship.

MATCH STATS:

• Sayre led the Herons with 11 kills (.114), while McCarthy (.286) and Von Dohlen (-.176) chipped in three kills each. First-year Arielle Newsome (.000) and junior Marin Montagne (-.357) added two kills each in the loss.
• First-year setter Delainy Williams tallied 20 assists in the loss for William Smith. She added five digs, three aces and one kill (1.000) through three sets.
• Vanderhoof led the defensive efforts with nine digs, while Williams and junior defensive specialist Cydney Fernandez chipped in five digs each. Sayre and first-year Emily Fulton tallied three digs each this afternoon.
• William Smith combined for three blocks in the loss and was led by Newsome with three and Von Dohlen with one.

COACHES CORNER:

"Today we just didn't have our best stuff," said Head Coach Derryk Williams. "Ithaca played super low error and were strong throughout the match. Although it wasn't the result we wanted, I am so proud of what we have accomplished thus far this season! We eagerly await the selection show on Monday!"

UP NEXT:
 
The 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Volleyball Championship's 64-team bracket will be revealed on Monday, Nov. 18. The selection show will begin at 1 p.m. William Smith will wait to see if it receives one of the 21 at-large bids into the tournament.