MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's volleyball team is finding its groove at the right time, now halfway home to another Midwest Conference championship with Wednesday's 25-12, 25-9, 25-10 sweep over Beloit inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
 
Coach Jeff Meeker's Rams needed only 60 minutes to reel off their seventh consecutive victory, including their third straight 3-0 sweep in league play. Cornell (11-7 overall, 4-0 MWC) is atop the conference standings with Grinnell (3-0 MWC) and four matches to go.
 
Cornell was clicking offensively against the Buccaneers (2-16 overall, 0-5 MWC), smashing 42 kills with only seven attack errors for a season-best .455 hitting percentage.
 
Sophomore Mia Tubbs led the balanced attack with nine kills on 13 errorless swings, hitting at an impressive .692-percent clip. Selia Stein hit .700 with eight kills on just 10 attempts. The first-year added four blocks, increasing her MWC-leading season total to 74.
 
Ashlin Nottestad and Ally Olmstead delivered seven and six kills, respectively, for the Rams, who limited Beloit to minus-.041 hitting on the night.
 
Grace Tverberg and Nia Howard combined for 33 assists. Howard continued her hot service hand with three aces, sharing team-high honors with Hannah Cantwell. Ella Becker collected 10 digs, now only three shy of 1,800.
 
Coming up – The Rams have opportunities ahead this weekend with three matches at the UW-Eau Claire Tournament in Eau Claire, Wis. Cornell plays UW-Stevens Point at 4:30 p.m. Friday, followed by Saturday tests against No. 6 Illinois Wesleyan at 10 a.m. and No. 7 UW-Eau Claire at 12 p.m.