MOUNT VERNON – The 23rd-ranked Rams were dealt their first home volleyball defeats of the season against a pair of perennial NCAA Tournament foes Saturday inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
Cornell (9-6) took one set from NCAA-votes getter UW-Eau Claire in a 25-16, 15-25, 25-21, 25-20 loss to start the day. The Rams then fell by scores of 25-22, 25-18 and 25-21 to Wartburg.
Ilah Perez-Johnson recorded her eighth double-double in 10 matches with a 10-kill, 12 dig effort against UW-Eau Claire (7-6), an NCAA qualifier a year ago. The senior also had three aces against the Blugolds, who limited the Rams to .099 hitting.
Grace Marti posted a team-high 12 kills and three blocks.
Clare Green dished 29 assists and
Ella Becker collected 15 digs in the opener.
Nia Howard added 12 digs.
The Rams ran up against a Wartburg front line that accumulated 11 blocks in the afternoon contest. Cornell hit .087 for the match.
Perez-Johnson led all players with 13 kills against the Knights (7-11). Green posted 24 assists and 10 digs. Marti accounted for five block assists.
Coming up – The Rams look to complete a regular-season sweep of rival Coe Tuesday with a 7:30 p.m. match in Cedar Rapids. Cornell won the first meeting, 3-2.
