PELLA – Cornell's volleyball team got tested on opening weekend, going 1-2 during a two-day stretch inside Central's Kuyper Gymnasium.
The Rams, who are receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 Preseason Poll, opened play Friday night with a 25-19, 25-21, 25-16 sweep over St. Catherine.
Cornell dropped matches Saturday to a pair of formidable foes, falling in five sets to 2025 NCAA qualifier Saint Benedict (25-21, 24-26, 16-25, 25-21, 15-11) and in four to host Central (25-14, 19-25, 25-19, 25-11). Central is picked second in the American Rivers Conference Preseason Poll.
The Rams were crisp from the service line, totaling 35 aces in the three matches. Senior setter
Nia Howard headed the effort with nine aces, including six against Saint Benedict. She climbed into a tie with Katherine Devlin (2013-16) for fourth place on Cornell's career list with 190.
Sophomore
Hannah Cantwell fired nine aces on the weekend, five against St. Catherine.
Cornell showed a balanced offensive attack with five players notching double-digit kills in the five-setter against Saint Benedict.
Ashlin Nottestad and
Selia Stein shared team-high honors with 13 kills apiece, followed by
Mia Tubbs (12),
Ally Olmstead (11) and Cantwell (10).
The Rams hit .315 against Saint Benedict, although were limited to a .097-percent clip in the Central match. Tubbs had nine kills and Olmstead four blocks against Central.
Senior
Kensie Staats led the back row with 38 digs in the tournament. Howard and
Grace Tverberg accounted for 61 and 39 assists, respectively.
Coming up – The Rams take on 16th-ranked and perennial power UW-Whitewater at 7 p.m. Friday in Whitewater, Wis.
