MOUNT VERNON – Senior middle blocker
Rory Light has been selected to the
NCAA Division III All-America Second Team by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA), cementing her place as one of the most decorated volleyball players in Cornell history.
Junior outside hitter
Ilah Perez-Johnson was voted to the AVCA Honorable Mention All-America Team, becoming the ninth different Ram to earn all-America status since 2011.
Light claimed honorable mention all-America honors last season. She's the fourth Cornell player to pick up two all-America awards in a career, joining Jillian Schulte (2017-18), Kylea Weber (2013-14) and Kathleen O'Connor (2011, 2013).
Light and Perez-Johnson directed the Rams (22-8 overall, 8-0 MWC) to their 10th consecutive Midwest Conference regular-season championship, an eighth MWC Tournament title in 10 years and the program's ninth NCAA Tournament berth overall.
Four of the team's losses came against Top 25-ranked foes, including a tight 3-1 setback to No. 11 UW-Whitewater in last week's NCAA Regional Quarterfinal.
Heading into the final weekend of the NCAA Division III Championships, Light is on target to claim the national season statistical title for blocks per set (a school-record 1.52) and stands No. 2 in total blocks (143). Her front-row presence has the Rams ranked No. 2 nationally in blocks per set (2.57) as a team.
The 6-foot Mount Vernon native accumulated a team-high 384 points this season, posting a .309 attack percentage with 300 kills. She averaged 3.19 kills per set, 18 times reaching double-digit kills in a match.
Despite a COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, Light has etched her name on Cornell's career Top 10 list in nine statistical categories. She finished No. 2 all-time in total blocks (375) and block assists (297). Light ranks No. 4 in career blocks per set (1.16), No. 5 in solo blocks (78), No. 7 in points per set (3.69) and kills per set (2.98), No. 8 in points (1,193.5) and attack percentage (.280) and No. 9 in kills (961).
Perez-Johnson emerged as a dynamic six-rotation player, recording season totals of 372.5 points, 293 kills (2.90 kps), 365 digs (3.61 dps), 56 aces (0.55 aps) and 41 blocks (0.41 bps). Her 56 service aces rank fifth-most on Cornell's single-season chart.
Perez-Johnson was at her best against elite competition, averaging 3.50 kills and 4.37 digs with 14 aces in eight matches vs. nationally-ranked foes. She recorded double-doubles (kills-digs) in the last six such matches. Perez-Johnson amassed 37 digs, 36 kills and seven aces in two impressive efforts against perennial power UW-Whitewater.
With one season left to go, Perez-Johnson is among Cornell's career leaders in aces per set (second, 0.45), kills per set (eighth, 2.94), points per set (eighth, 3.58) and digs per set (10th, 3.14).
