CEDAR RAPIDS – Senior Alissa McEndaffer converted a career-high 19 kills to lift the Rams to a 21-25, 25-13, 25-23, 25-23 volleyball win Saturday over UW-River Falls in the Cornell Classic, held at Coe's Kohawk Arena.
 
The Rams fell 19-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22 to Wheaton in the final match of the two-day, six-team event.
 
Cornell, playing without injured standout middle blocker Rory Light on Saturday, moved its season record to 5-3.
 
Gustavus wound up the lone unbeaten over the weekend with a 4-0 mark. Wheaton finished 2-1, Grinnell 1-1, Cornell and Coe both 1-2, and UW-River Falls 0-3.  
 
McEndaffer made up for Light's absence with an outstanding .469 hitting match against the Falcons. The senior had only four errors on 32 swings and also contributed eight digs and three blocks.
 
Olivia Richards and Ilah Perez-Johnson recorded 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Sydney Meeker totaled 27 digs, Delaney Thomas 15.
 
Junior transfer Grace Marti was tough up front with seven blocks. The Rams fired 10 aces serves, four from Perez-Johnson.
 
In the finale, Wheaton (4-5) registered 11 blocks and held Cornell to .042 hitting. The Rams got a match-high 28 digs from Meeker.
 
Richards led Cornell's attack with 10 kills. Lindsay Frazier served five of the team's nine aces.
 
First-year setter Clare Green handed out 78 total assists in Saturday's matches.
 
The Rams travel to Holland, Mich., next weekend for four matches at the Hope Invitational. Cornell plays No. 25 Muskingum and Dominican Friday, followed by major challenges Saturday against No. 7 Hope and No. 8 Calvin.