MOUNT VERNON – It had been 23 days since Cornell's volleyball team played a match on its home court. And the Rams will be back on it Saturday afternoon for a chance to claim an NCAA berth.
 
Top-seeded Cornell took care of business Friday night with a 25-13, 25-13, 25-23 victory over No. 4 seed Grinnell in the semifinals of the Midwest Conference Tournament before a large home following inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The 25th-ranked Rams (21-7) advance to Saturday's championship match at 1 p.m. against No. 2 seed Illinois College (18-12) for the MWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
 
The Lady Blues breezed by Lake Forest in Friday's first semifinal – 25-18, 25-21, 25-12 – for their seventh consecutive victory.
 
Cornell, which improved to 11-2 at home, returns to the MWC title tilt for the 10th time in 11 years. The Rams have beaten Illinois College twice this season, both 3-1 outcomes in Mount Vernon.
 
Cornell eliminated the in-state rival Pioneers (13-17) with a late third-set surge to complete their 11th sweep of the season. The Rams rallied from a 21-15 deficit and scored the final four points off the serve of senior Ilah Perez-Johnson, who earlier in the night was named the MWC's Player of the Year.
 
A Perez-Johnson ace knotted the third set at 23-23. Carly Puffer and Ella McLaughlin executed a double block that pushed the Rams ahead 24-23. Kiana Manson finished the comeback with a perfectly-placed attack that dropped untouched on Grinnell's side.
 
Junior First Team All-MWC setter Clare Green eclipsed 3,000 career assists, becoming the third Ram to reach the milestone. She handed out 33 assists against the Pioneers, raising her three-year total to 3,029.
 
Perez-Johnson led all players with 13 kills and added 11 digs for her 19th double-double of the season. The Rams received nine kills from Manson, seven from Puffer and six from Grace Marti, who also posted a match-high five blocks.
 
The Rams were hot from the service line with eight aces, including three by Kensie Staats. Ella Becker contributed 12 digs.
 
Cornell took control early, totaling 30 kills over the first two sets. The Rams finished the match hitting .220, to Grinnell's .105.