AURORA, Ill. – An attractive season-opening match between conference volleyball favorites saw Cornell pull through in five sets against host Aurora Friday night at the Jim Coleman Memorial Classic.  
 
Cornell battled the Spartans out of the Northern Athletic Collegiate Conference for 2 hours, 22 minutes before prevailing 20-25, 25-21, 25-17, 24-26, 15-12.
 
The hot-hitting Rams (1-0) pounded 65 kills in the match, 18 off the hand of Ilah Perez-Johnson who completed a double-double with 12 digs. Sophomore Carly Puffer also sizzled from the front row, hitting .517 with 17 kills.
 
Fifth-year Grace Marti delivered 16 kills on .364 hitting, while Ella McLaughlin added 10 kills.
 
The Rams rallied from a 10-8 deficit in the decisive fifth set, scoring four consecutive points fueled by a pair of aces from Perez-Johnson. Puffer provided the final two points on kills, sending the Rams to victory.
 
Cornell received 43 assists from Clare Green and 16 from first-year Nia Howard. Libero Ella Becker posted a match-high 22 digs.
 
Coming up – The Rams continue tournament action Saturday with matches against Macalester at 1 p.m. and national-votes getter Chicago at 3 p.m.