2011 Media Guide - Ithaca College Athletics

ITHACA BOMBERS VOLLEYBALL
Ben Light Gymnasium
Ithaca College’s gymnasium was dedicated on December
5, 1964, and was later named after former administrator
Ben Light in action taken by the school’s board of trustees
in February 1968. The basketball court, with seating
capacity for 2,500 spectators, is housed in the Laurence S.
Hill Physical Education Center on campus.
Ben Light was a football, basketball, and baseball
standout at Ithaca College. A 1936 graduate, he was
hired as a faculty member and coach. Following World
War II Light took over the men’s basketball program and
guided the Bombers to a 70-51 record over the next seven
seasons. In 1952 he was named the school’s first director
of admissions and placement, and seven years later he
became secretary of Ithaca College. Light was chosen as
vice president of development in 1968, a position he held
until his death.
Laurence S. Hill was dean of physical education at
Ithaca from 1929 until 1957. Both Light and Hill were
inducted into the Ithaca College Athletic Hall of Fame.
The Ithaca men’s basketball team defeated Lock
Haven, 77-57, in the first game played at the new gym on
December 9, 1964. George Valesente, the current baseball
coach at Ithaca, helped the Bombers to victory with 16
points that evening.
Ben Light Gymnasium has played host to numerous
volleyball tournaments, highlighted by three rounds of the
1994 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. The
Bombers hosted a quarterfinal match, beating Springfield
to advance to the national semifinals, and were selected to
host the semifinal and championship round. A year later,
Ithaca hosted Springfield in the quarterfinals and rallied
from a 2-0 deficit to reach the final four for the second year
in a row.
The oldest tradition is the Bomber Invitational, which
began during the 1973 season. This tournament continues
to attract premier teams in Division III volleyball. The
invitational was on hiatus from 1977 to 1986 and from
1993 to 1994.
In 1977 Ithaca was the site of the Eastern Association
of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (EAIAW) northeast
regional tournament and the Bombers took fourth place.
The following year the Bombers hosted the New York
State Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women
(NYSAIAW) tournament. In 1986 and 1989 Ithaca was
the site for the Independent College Athletic Conference
(ICAC) Championship, placing first and third, respectively.
Ithaca hosted and placed second in the New York State
Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA)
Championship in 1993. Ithaca hosted a quarterfinal match
against Trinity (Texas) in 1999, losing to the Tigers, 3-0.
The volleyball team has won over 76 percent of its
matches in Ben Light Gymnasium since 1974.
In addition to Ithaca’s volleyball team, the facility is
also the home arena for intercollegiate gymnastics, men’s
and women’s basketball and wrestling.
ITHACA HOME RECORD
Record in Ben Light Gymnasium
1974-2010
275-86, .762
Years Won Lost Pct
1974-80 58 15 .795
1981-90 59 26 .694
1991-99 67 21 .761
2000-09 80 24 .769
2010- 11 0 1.000
Totals 275 86 .762
2 bombers.ithaca.edu