MOUNT VERNON – The 21st-ranked Rams wound up on the short end of a pair of tough five-set volleyball matches during Saturday's conclusion of the Cornell Classic inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
Cornell dropped a 21-25, 25-18, 25-16, 23-25, 15-7 battle with Illinois Wesleyan to start the day. The Rams were then edged by Simpson by scores of 25-22, 18-25, 25-18, 18-25, 15-10.  
 
The Rams moved to 4-7 on the young season, after going 0-3 in their home tournament.
 
Senior setter Clare Green was honored on the Cornell Classic All-Tournament Team, joining North Central's Bailey Houlihan and Maddi Barickman, Illinois Wesleyan's Taylor French, Augsburg's Ava Carlson and Simpson's Emily Williams.
 
Green accounted for 127 assists in three matches, including a season-best 45 against Illinois Wesleyan. She also totaled 41 digs and five service aces.
 
Ilah Perez-Johnson concluded a terrific tournament with 44 kills, 22 digs and five aces in Saturday's matches. The fifth-year notched a season-high 23 kills against Illinois Wesleyan.
 
Illinois Wesleyan scored the final six points in the decisive fifth set to take down the Rams in a match that lasted nearly two hours. Carly Puffer and Mia Tubbs provided nine and eight kills, respectively. Ella Becker recorded a match-high 21 digs.
 
Cornell went back-and-forth with Simpson before digging a big early hole in Set 5. The Rams fell behind 10-4 and couldn't recover in time.
 
Cornell delivered 16 more kills than the Storm, 58-42, although Simpson made good on 16 team blocks. The Rams also committed 14 service errors.
 
Green distributed 44 assists, 21 going to Perez-Johnson. Puffer chipped in 11 kills and four blocks. Green also led the team with 19 digs and three aces.
 
Coming up – The Rams will face three nationally-ranked opponents next weekend at the Wash U. Tournament in St. Louis, Mo. Cornell plays No. 12 Gustavus Adolphus and No. 8 La Verne on Friday, followed by a Saturday match with No. 14 Wash U.