MOUNT VERNON – With all-time kills leader and newly-enshrined Hall of Famer Kathleen O'Connor '14 in attendance Saturday, Cornell's volleyball team put on quite a hitting display in a 25-13, 25-16, 25-18 sweep of Ripon inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The 25th-ranked Rams (11-6 overall, 1-0 MWC) slammed 44 kills and compiled a whopping .405 attack percentage in taking their first step toward an 11th consecutive Midwest Conference championship.
 
Cornell hit a staggering .727 in the opening set, connecting for 16 kills on 22 errorless swings. And the Rams were well on their way to their fifth 3-0 sweep of the season.
 
Ilah Perez-Johnson led the hitting parade with a match-high 14 kills and sizzling .684 attack percentage. The senior outside hitter also fired three of the team's 12 ace serves, pushing her past current assistant coach Sydney Meeker (2017-21) for seventh place on Cornell's career list with 144.
 
Ella McLaughlin delivered 11 kills on .381 hitting. Grace Marti and Kiana Manson provided eight kills apiece.
 
Setter Clare Green posted 33 assists and three aces. Ella Becker scooped 11 digs. Marti added three ace serves.
 
The Rams surrendered only four aces and held Ripon (6-14 overall, 0-3 MWC) to 24 kills.
     
Coming up – The Rams play host to Monmouth (8-10 overall, 2-1 MWC) at 7 p.m. Friday.