GRINNELL – Cornell College volleyball and Midwest Conference championships have become synonymous to those following the Rams since they rejoined the league in 2012.
 
Coach Jeff Meeker's 24th-ranked Rams sewed up their 11th consecutive MWC regular-season crown Wednesday night with a hard-fought 27-25, 21-25, 26-24, 25-20 victory over in-state rival Grinnell inside Darby Gym.   
 
Cornell earned the No. 1 seed and hosting rights for the MWC Tournament Nov. 10-11, also for the 11th time in a row.
 
The Rams stretched their winning streak to 10 matches, improving to 19-6 overall and 7-0 in the MWC. The team can complete its third straight undefeated MWC regular season with a win at Knox Friday night.
 
Cornell has now won 67 of its last 68 MWC regular-season contests. The lone blemish during the span was a 2019 road loss to Grinnell, which tried to play spoiler Wednesday night on its home floor.
 
Playing without all-American outside hitter Ilah Perez-Johnson, the Rams had newcomer Kiana Manson step up with a season-high 15 kills while Grace Marti delivered 14 in a tight match that witnessed 38 ties and 18 lead changes.
 
Cornell recorded 10 teams blocks, including a double from Carly Puffer and Clare Green that produced the winning point in Set 1. Puffer, Marti and Tendall Weigand finished the night with five assisted blocks apiece.
 
The Pioneers (12-15 overall, 4-3 MWC) won the second set and led 19-16 in the third. Following a Cornell timeout, the Rams reeled off four consecutive points and hung on for a 26-24 win in Set 3.
 
The Rams used a 7-1 spurt to pull away in Set 4. Cornell scored its final two points on Manson spikes.
 
Green's 39 assists moved her past Jillian Schulte (2,936 assists, 2015-18) for No. 3 on Cornell's career list. The junior setter also had 15 digs and three aces during a fine all-around night.
 
Ella Becker scooped 27 digs – one shy of her career high – while Kensie Staats added 19. Ella McLaughlin provided nine kills.