MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's volleyball team raced to a 20-3 lead in the opening set and cruised through the finish with a 25-7, 25-20, 25-17 sweep over Loras Wednesday night inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
The Rams (3-7) got back on the winning track with a crisp performance that saw them record 12 ace serves and a season-best .404 attack percentage. Cornell trailed for only four total points during the quick 1-hour, 4-minute match.
Senior libero
Kensie Staats, named all-tournament at the Mabel Lee Invitational last weekend, continued her strong play with six aces and 13 digs. She raised her career ace total to 99.
Sophomore
Grace Tverberg fired four aces and dished 14 assists, sharing team-high honors with
Nia Howard.
Cornell's balanced attack had six players collect at least five kills, led by
Ally Olmstead's match-high nine.
Selia Stein hit a near-perfect .857 with six kills on seven swings.
Ashlin Nottestad added eight kills, followed by
Hannah Cantwell and
Mia Tubbs with six apiece and first-year
Helen Simpson with five.
The Rams committed only seven attack errors on the night, none in the first set. Cornell built an 11-3 lead in Set 2. Nottestad's 4-0 service run gave the Rams early control in Set 3.
Cornell's back row did not surrender a single ace from the Duhawks (5-8).
Coming up – Cornell remains home Friday for a 6 p.m. nonconference match against Millikin (8-5).
