GALESBURG, Ill. – Cornell tipped off another anticipated Midwest Conference volleyball season in impressive style, posting a whopping .442 attack percentage in Friday's 25-4, 25-13, 25-12 rout of Knox inside Memorial Gym.
 
The Rams (7-4 overall, 1-0 MWC), nine-time defending MWC regular-season champions, dominated in all facets for their 19th consecutive series win over the Prairie Fire (4-6, 0-1).  
 
Freshmen Ella McLaughlin and Carly Puffer combined for 20 kills to pace Cornell's explosive attack, which committed only four errors on 77 total swings. It was the team's best offensive match since hitting .511 against Beloit in 2019.
 
McLaughlin registered a match-high 11 kills on .455 hitting in her MWC debut. Puffer hit .533 with nine kills. Grace Marti and Ilah Perez-Johnson also had efficient offensive nights with seven and six kills, respectively.
 
Perez-Johnson connected on four service aces. Clare Green set 28 assists and had two aces. Freshman libero Ella Becker led all players with 15 digs.
 
The Rams, who rank No. 4 nationally in blocks per set, totaled six team blocks against Knox. Marti led the way with four block assists.
 
Olivia Richards served 12 consecutive points to give Cornell a 19-3 lead in the opening set, and the Rams never looked back.
 
Coming up – The Rams continue MWC play Saturday at 1 p.m. against Monmouth in Monmouth, Ill.