MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's volleyball team dug down deep in the fifth set and rewarded a jam-packed energetic student section with a thrilling 25-19, 25-18, 20-25, 22-25, 15-11 comeback victory over the rival Coe Kohawks Wednesday night in the Small Sport Center.
The Rams (4-1) rallied to score nine of the final 10 points of the match and claimed an important point toward the 2021-22 Bremner Cup All-Sport Series, which Cornell now leads 2-1 through three head-to-head competitions this fall.
A battle between teams receiving national votes and preseason favorites in their respective conferences lived up to the hype in the two-plus hour dandy that witnessed 26 ties and 12 lead changes.
The Kohawks (3-2) charged back from a 2-0 sets deficit and built a 10-6 advantage in the decisive fifth set. That's when momentum suddenly turned in favor of the Rams. A spike by
Olivia Richards, consecutive kills from
Alissa McEndaffer and an ace by
Ilah Perez-Johnson quickly evened the score at 10-10.
Richards, a first-year junior transfer from Kirkwood Community College, played a hand in four of Cornell's final five points to bring the Rams home. She planted kills for the 12th and 13th points, and then teamed with
Rory Light for a match-clinching double block to end it.
Richards, among three newcomers in Cornell's starting lineup, collected six of her 12 kills in the fifth set and finished the night with an impressive .478 attack percentage. Richards added six block assists.
Perez-Johnson and McEndaffer provided 15 kills apiece to pace the attack. Light also reached double figures with 10 kills to go with six blocks. Freshman Marti Grace had six kills.
Freshman setter
Clare Green handed out 43 assists for a Ram offense that outhit Coe, .202 to .124.
Sydney Meeker totaled 31 digs and a pair of ace serves. Perez-Johnson added 17 digs, Green 13 and Richards 12.
Coe's Kate Tidman led all players with 17 kills.
Coming up – The Rams host the six-team Cornell Classic this weekend. Cornell plays Gustavus Adolphus at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by Saturday matches at 10 a.m. against UW-River Falls and 2 p.m. against Wheaton.
Saturday's matches will be held at Coe's Kohawk Arena in Cedar Rapids.
