ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Senior Rory Light vaulted to No. 2 on Cornell's all-time blocks list as the Rams went 1-1 against quality competition Friday at the Green and Red Invite inside Wash U Field House.
 
Cornell (17-7 overall), a votes-getter in the AVCA Top 25 Poll, downed a 19-win UW-Platteville squad in four sets in the opener – 29-27, 25-19, 20-25, 25-19. The Rams then got tripped up by No. 7 nationally-ranked Wash U – 25-16, 25-20, 25-20.
 
The Rams moved to 2-3 against Top 25 opponents this month.
 
Light registered nine blocks on the day, jumping Kori Sims (2000-04) for second place on the career list with 338. The all-American Light trails only Taylor Dicus (571 blocks, 2011-14) for most blocks in program history.
 
Ilah Perez-Johnson triggered Cornell's win over UW-Platteville (19-7) with 13 kills, 18 digs and a pair of service aces. Clare Green distributed 41 assists, 14 of which went to Light. Grace Marti delivered 10 kills and three blocks.
 
Carly Puffer planted eight kills and Ella Becker added 18 digs against the Pioneers.
 
Perez-Johnson turned in another double-double against Wash U (23-3), going for a match-high 12 kills with 10 digs. Puffer provided six kills, while Light and Marti pitched in five apiece.
 
Green had 19 assists and 11 digs. Becker posted a team-best 12 digs.
 
The Rams fell behind Wash U 12-4 in the opening set and 11-3 in the second. Cornell was in position to take the third, leading 20-18. But the Bears answered with seven unanswered points to complete the sweep.      
  
Coming up – The Rams play host to Grinnell at 7 p.m. Wednesday in a much-anticipated match with Midwest Conference championship implications. The teams are tied atop the league standings at 6-0.