Box Score

STORRS, Conn.—The Big Red volleyball team lost a close 3-1 match to Temple on Saturday morning at the UConn Toyota Classic. Freshman Meagan Tatum led the Big Red with 15 kills, while classmate Kelly Hansen notched a match-high seven blocks.

In the first set, the Big Red (0-5) and Temple (6-5) were tied at 10 points apiece early, but the Owls then held a slight 20-19 edge and pulled ahead to win, 25-21. Junior Juliana Rogers tallied three blocks in the set for the Big Red.

Tatum notched six of her 15 kills in the second, while hitting .417 to help put the Big Red up 10-5 to open the set. Cornell retained its advantage and finished strong to a 25-20 win. Junior libero Megan Mushovic scored two aces for the Big Red.

Temple held a slight edge from the start of the third set and carried it to a 25-18 victory to go up two sets to one.

The Big Red fought hard to tie the match up in the fourth set and battled back and forth for points with the Owls. The two teams were tied at 13 all, midway through the set. Despite a stellar defensive effort by Mushovic who tallied eight digs, and Hansen with three blocks, Temple inched ahead to win 25-20.

Joining Tatum to lead the Big Red offense was Emily Borman who tallied 10 kills while hitting, .444. Rogers totaled five blocks, and added nine kills. Senior captain Hilary Holland completed 38 assists for Cornell with six digs and a block. Mushovic finished the match with 17 digs.

Temple was led by Cayleigh Asman with 18 kills, while hitting .382 and tallying five blocks. Jacqueline Cowden and Yun Yi Zhang led the Owls at the net with six block assists apiece, and Zhang tallied 12 kills. Ariel Pierre had a match-high 20 digs, while Caitlin Loudon and Ashley Carr added 12 and 11, respectively.

The Big Red will be back in action Saturday evening when it will complete the UConn Toyota Classic by facing Maine at 5 p.m.