ST. PETER, Minn. – Seeking its third win over a Top 25 opponent this month, Cornell's volleyball team couldn't quite make it happen Tuesday night in a 25-18, 26-24, 24-26, 25-20 loss to 17th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus at Gus Young Court.
 
The Rams (13-6), who received 13 votes in today's AVCA Top 25 Coaches' Poll, lost for only the second time in their last 11 matches. The other blemish since mid-September was to defending national champion UW-Eau Claire.
 
Cornell hung tough with the Gusties (17-4) in a see-saw battle that went nearly two hours with 38 ties and 15 lead changes. The Rams recorded 61 kills, to the Gusties' 58.
 
Junior Ilah Perez-Johnson had an exceptional night with a season-high 18 kills on .250 hitting, while also collecting 22 digs and a pair of service aces.
 
Clare Green also notched a double-double with 44 assists and 10 digs. She added six kills from the setter position. Freshman Ella Becker led all players with 23 digs.
 
Grace Marti hit .303 with 12 kills. Rory Light had nine kills and three blocks. Ella McLaughlin provided eight kills for the Rams, who hit .196 as a team.
 
A turning point in the match came in Set 2 with the Rams about to close it out leading 24-21. The Gusties, a 2021 regional semifinalist, charged back with five unanswered points to win the set.
 
Perez-Johnson smashed six kills in the Set 3 victory. The Rams were denied set point three times before Light finished it with back-to-back spikes.
 
Set 4 saw the Rams forge ahead 14-13 on a McLaughlin kill. The Gusties responded with a 4-0 run and kept the lead the rest of the way.   
 
Coming up – The Rams (4-0 MWC) play host to Illinois College (2-1 MWC) Saturday in the Small Athletic and Wellness Center. First serve is 1 p.m.