MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's volleyball team charged back from a 2-1 sets deficit and outlasted Loras in five – 19-25, 25-19, 23-25, 25-20, 15-7 – Wednesday night inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
The Rams (5-10) pushed through when it mattered against a quality Loras team (8-7) in a 1-hour, 59-minute battle. It was Cornell's fifth five-set match of the season and the team's first victory since taking down No. 20 Berry (Ga.) on Sept. 7.
 
Cornell turned in superb individual performances all around, including a career-best 56 assists from all-American setter Clare Green who also scooped 12 digs.  
 
Ilah Perez-Johnson recorded a match-high 21 kills, and in the process passed Kristin Paczosa (2006-09) for fourth place on the program's career list with 1,343. The fifth-year outside hitter had four kills in the decisive fifth set, highlighted by a thunderous spike for match point.
 
Junior libero Ella Becker tied her career high with 28 digs and went 18-of-18 from the service line. Kensie Staats also connected on all 18 of her serves and tallied 12 digs.
 
Carly Puffer was terrific in the middle with 15 kills on .393 hitting while adding four blocks. Ally Olmstead delivered 11 kills and five blocks. Mia Tubbs and Ella McLaughlin provided 10 and nine kills, respectively, for Cornell's balanced attack.
 
The Rams picked up steam as the match progressed, hitting .372 in the fourth set and .286 in the fifth. A Perez-Johnson ace gave Cornell a quick 4-1 lead in Set 5 and the Rams never looked back.
 
Puffer had three kills and a block that increased the margin to 11-3. Then it was Perez-Johnson with three kills down the stretch to cement Cornell's first home win of the season.
 
Perez-Johnson's two ace serves moved her into a tie with Hope Coffin (2004-07) for second-most on Cornell's career chart with 193.
 
Coming up – The Rams play Nebraska Wesleyan at 11 a.m. and Macalester at 3 p.m. Saturday in a home triangular. Nebraska Wesleyan and Macalester meet in a 1 p.m. match.