WHITEWATER, Wis. – Cornell's volleyball team faced a tough chore Friday night, falling 25-9, 25-22, 25-16 to ninth-ranked UW-Whitewater on the Warhawks' home floor at the Dig Panici Classic.
 
It was the sixth Top 25 opponent the battle-tested Rams (15-9) have played this season. And Cornell will take on one more rated foe Saturday with matchups against UW-Oshkosh at 11 a.m. and No. 11 UW-Eau Claire at 3 p.m.
 
UW-Whitewater (21-1) posted a .267 team attack percentage and held a 10-1 advantage in service aces. The Warhawks recorded 9.0 blocks and limited the Rams to a season-low .012 hitting percentage.
 
Sydney Meeker led all players with 14 digs and went 9-of-9 from the service line. Setter Clare Green had 18 assists, seven going to Alissa McEndaffer. Ilah Perez-Johnson added six kills and seven digs. Rory Light totaled three blocks.
 
The Rams hung with the home team late in Set 2, getting within 24-22 on a kill by Olivia Richards. UW-Whitewater scored the winning point on a Cornell error and continued momentum with a 10-3 run to start Set 3.