MOUNT VERNON – Two days after vaulting into the national poll, Cornell's volleyball team validated its No. 24 ranking with a 25-12, 18-25, 25-16, 25-19 victory over 2019 NCAA qualifier Dubuque Friday night inside the Small Sport Center.

The Rams (2-0) took it to the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) preseason favorite Spartans, who received votes in this week's AVCA Coaches' Poll. This came on the heels of Saturday's five-set win over Wartburg, picked second in the A-R-C.

Sophomore Rory Light (SO/Mount Vernon, Iowa) slammed a match-high 15 kills on efficient .364 hitting and freshman Ilah Perez-Johnson (FR/Pleasant Valley, Iowa) recorded an impressive double-double with 14 kills and 17 digs to pace the Rams.

Allison Eikenberry (SR/Neola, Iowa) was the third Cornell hitter to reach double-digit kills with 10. The Rams posted a .237 team attack percentage, while holding the Spartans to .086.

Danielle Amonica (SR/Las Vegas, Nevada) set 40 assists and scooped nine digs. Libero Sydney Meeker (SR/Mount Vernon, Iowa) accounted for 17 digs. Lindsey Frazier (JR/Ely, Iowa) added 10 digs and a pair of service aces.

Light was tough on the defensive front line with four total blocks. Amonica had three block assists.

The Rams dominated the opening set and then recovered quickly after dropping the second. Cornell surged past the Spartans with a 12-3 run to finish Set 3.

With the score tied 10-10 in the fourth, Cornell scored six unanswered points to regain control. Alissa McEndaffer (JR/Fort Collins, Colo.) and Eikenberry each had four kills in Set 4 as the Rams closed it out.  

Coming up – The Rams are back home Saturday, March 6 for a 1 p.m. match against Midwest Conference foe Illinois College.