MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's packed student section let out a loud roar of approval to the first point scored Friday night, a powerful swing and kill by sophomore Ilah Perez-Johnson.
 
It was the first of many aggressive attacks by the top-seeded Rams, who slammed 46 kills in a 25-20, 25-12, 25-11 semifinal victory over Monmouth at the Midwest Conference Volleyball Tournament inside the Small Sport Center.
 
Cornell (19-11) advances to the championship match at 1 p.m. Saturday to face second-seeded Grinnell (20-13) for the MWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Pioneers moved on with a 25-16, 20-25, 20-25, 25-19, 15-11 comeback win over Illinois College.
 
The Rams will go after their seventh MWC Tournament crown and eighth NCAA bid against a Grinnell squad that won the league's last contested tournament in 2019. Cornell beat the Pioneers, 3-1, in the regular-season meeting Oct. 27 in Grinnell.
 
Cornell clicked in all facets against the Fighting Scots (15-14), posting a hefty .346 hitting percentage and firing 11 ace serves to Monmouth's two. The Rams nearly doubled up the visitors in total kills, 46-26.
 
Perez-Johnson and Rory Light shared match-high honors with 13 kills apiece, both hitting over 340. The Rams showed their offensive balance, getting six kills each from Grace Marti, Clare Green and Alissa McEndaffer.
 
Green had an outstanding night, hitting .545 from her setter position with 33 assists, 10 digs and a pair of blocks. The freshman went over 1,000 assists for the season, the sixth Cornell player to achieve the feat.

Sydney Meeker led all players with 15 digs and went 14-of-14 from the service line. Light contributed five blocks.
 
Caitlin Babcock and Perez-Johnson headed the service game with three aces apiece. Olivia Richards added two aces. Perez-Johnson served out the final seven points of the night, which Light capped with the match-ending spike.