BROCKPORT, N.Y.—Gordon Volleyball ran into stiff competition on day one of the Brockport Invitational, falling 3-0 to Ithaca and 3-1 to Skidmore on Friday.
 
Fresh off an impressive home debut, Gordon matched up with the defending Empire 8 champions Ithaca in its first game of the day. After a tough first set, Gordon played the Bombers close in the second. A late run in the second set brought the Scots within a point of evening the match, but the Bombers fought off two consecutive set points and eventually overtook Gordon 27-25.
 
Ithaca jumped out to a 14-3 lead in the third set and Gordon was never able to fully recover.
 
Newcomers Carleigh Petersen (North Hills, Calif.) and Mackenzie Hinds (Higganum, Conn.) led Gordon in kills with nine and eight apiece. Maggie Risma (Hudson, Ohio) pitched in 11 digs on the back line and Renee Cooprider (Hopkinton, Mass.) dished out 24 assists.
 
In the second match of the day, Gordon looked to rebound against a strong Skidmore team. The Fighting Scots battled evenly with the Thoroughbreds, but fell on the wrong end of the score in three of the four sets.
 
Petersen led Gordon in points once again with 11 kills. Jenna Labbadia (Berlin, Conn.) was the only other Scot in double figures with nine kills and a service ace. Risma put forth a herculean effort in digs with 30, but fell just a little short of the Gordon record for a four-set match. Renee Cooprider matched her effort from Wednesday evening with 32 assists.
 
The Fighting Scots have two matches remaining on their tour of Western New York, as they play Houghton and Penn St.-Behrend on Saturday.