Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y.—The Big Red volleyball team closed out its 2008 season with a 3-2 win over Harvard on Saturday evening. Sophomore Alessa Cekauskas led the team with 15 kills, while senior Emily Borman had 14. Cornell finished with a 10-15 overall record and takes fourth place in the Ivy League with a 9-5 mark. Harvard fell to 5-9 against the Ancient Eight and 10-16 overall. The Big Red honored its three seniors Borman, Hilary Holland and Kathryn Woodbury before the start of the match.

Cornell held a slight lead in the first set and powered on to a 25-21 victory. Cekauskas notched five kills in just eight attempts to hit .625, while junior libero Megan Mushovic totaled seven digs.

Once again the Big Red held an advantage early in the second set and went up 2-0 with a 25-19 win. Borman and Holland each had three block assists.

Harvard regrouped in the third set and came out strong. The Crimson took the lead 20-15, but Cornell switched gears to come within two points at 22-20. Harvard used a time out and returned to the court to win 25-21. Sophomore Erin McCarthy had seven digs, while Holland notched 10 assists and eight digs.

The Crimson continued aggressive play in the fourth and held a small lead, but Cornell fought to keep the score close. The Crimson tied the match at 2-2 with a 25-22 win. Harvard was led by Mikaelle Comrie who was perfect in hitting with five kills. Cekauskas had four kills for Cornell.

Cornell took the court with renewed energy in the fifth, looking to end its season with a win. The Big Red notched six unanswered points before Harvard scored on a service error. The Big Red continued on to a 15-9 victory, with seniors Borman and Woodbury scoring the final point with a huge block against a Crimson attack. Borman had three kills in just five attempts to hit .600 in the set, and Mushovic tallied five digs. The Big Red defense held the Crimson to a 0.091 hitting percentage.

Borman had five blocks to add to her 14 kills and hit .417 in the match. McCarthy totaled 10 kills and 18 digs and added three service aces. Holland finished the night with 50 assists with 17 digs and four blocks. Mushovic had a team-high 21 digs and freshman Risa Ka'awa added 10.

Harvard was led by Comrie and Anne Carroll Ingersoll with 14 kills each. Libero Christine Wu notched a match-high 31 digs. Ingersoll and Lily Durwood each had four block assists.