GRINNELL – The Midwest Conference volleyball title was up for grabs Wednesday night inside Grinnell's Darby Gymnasium. And the Rams knew nothing other than to take it, like they've done every season since 2012.
 
Cornell captured its ninth consecutive MWC regular-season crown with a 25-12, 26-24, 18-25, 25-22 victory over the Pioneers in an anticipated battle between league unbeatens. It was the teams' first meeting since the 2019 MWC semifinal in Mount Vernon, won by Grinnell.
 
Coach Jeff Meeker's Rams (16-11 overall, 7-0 MWC) earned the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage in the four-team MWC Tournament, held Nov. 5-6 in Mount Vernon. The field will include Grinnell (17-12 overall, 6-1 MWC), Illinois College and Monmouth.  
 
Cornell, ranked No. 7 in this week's Region IX Poll, looks to complete an undefeated MWC regular season Saturday at 1 p.m. on its home court against Lawrence. The Rams host nonconference foe Dubuque at 3 p.m.
 
Sophomore outside hitter Ilah Perez-Johnson (16 kills, 14 digs) and freshman setter Clare Green (41 assists, 14 digs) went for double-doubles to pace the Rams in Wednesday's hard-fought match that witnessed 28 ties and 17 lead changes.
 
The Rams had great balance offensively and posted a .229 attack percentage. Alissa McEndaffer hit .333 with 13 kills, Rory Light slammed 11 kills on .370 hitting and Grace Marti came through with nine kills.
 
Light led all players with five blocks. Sydney Meeker scooped 11 digs and had a perfect 18-of-18 night from the service line, including one ace.
 
Green set the tone early with eight consecutive service points, breaking a 7-7 score in the opening set that the Rams won handily. Perez-Johnson exploded for seven kills in a tightly-contest second set, which Light closed out with a spike.
 
Grinnell came back to take Set 3, but the Rams regained momentum late in a see-saw fourth set that was tied 13 times, including at 18-18. Marti's kill started a 3-0 Cornell run and moments later the Rams celebrated championship point on a block by Light.