HOLLAND, Mich. – Cornell went head-to-head with two of the nation's elite volleyball programs Saturday, falling in four sets to ninth-ranked Hope (25-16, 24-26, 25-21, 25-22) and sixth-ranked Calvin (25-15, 18-25, 25-15, 25-15) at the Hope Invitational.
 
The Rams (7-5 overall) finished 2-2 in the tournament, earning 3-0 wins Friday night over national votes-getter Muskingum and Dominican.
 
Cornell hung tough with Hope (8-1) and Calvin (12-1), both perennial national title contenders who have dominated foes this fall with a combined 63-12 record in sets played.
 
The Rams were squared 1-1 in sets with Hope and tied 21-21 late in the third. Cornell also had a chance in the fourth set, which was even at 22-22.
 
Rory Light continued her outstanding play with 19 kills on .371 hitting against Hope. The junior also had four blocks. Sydney Meeker gathered a match-high 27 digs, followed by Ilah Perez-Johnson with 16.
 
Setter Clare Green handed out 39 assists, 13 going to Alissa McEndaffer who hit an impressive .355 in the Hope match. McEndaffer added 10 digs for a double-double.
 
The Rams were tied 1-1 against a talented Calvin squad going into the third set. Cornell opened the second set on a 10-2 scoring run, highlighted by eight straight service points from Perez-Johnson. Perez-Johnson fired a career-best seven ace serves in the match.
 
McEndaffer led Cornell's attack with 16 kills. Light posted a sizzling .545 hitting percentage with 14 kills.
 
Green distributed 34 assists. Perez-Johnson and Meeker totaled 16 and 13 digs, respectively.
 
Calvin hit .301 for the match, to Cornell's .178.
 
Cornell begins its Midwest Conference title defense Friday with a 7 p.m. home match against Knox.