Boxscore 

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – The Cornell volleyball team fell to the host Bearcats in the final match of the Binghamton Invitational, 3-0. The Big Red fell in straight sets, 25-19, 25-17, and 25-23.

Erin McCarthy and Jessica Misse led the Big Red with eight and six kills, respectively. Misse was especially impressive with her six kills coming on eight attempts for a .500 attack percentage. Jordan Reeder and Lucy Zheng split the setting duties and registering 11 assists apiece. Deveney Pula, who was named to the all-tournament team, led the Big Red with six digs.

In the first set, Binghamton used a 5-1 scoring run to break open a tied game, taking the early 9-5 lead. That proved to be the difference as the teams traded points the rest of the way.

Cornell jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Binghamton fought back with a pair of kills to knot the game at 3-3. The teams tied three more times during the early part of the set before seven unanswered points put the Bearcats up, 14-7. The Big Red used a 4-1 scoring run to close the gap to 15-11, thanks in large part to a kill and a service ace from Pula. Binghamton scored the next four points to extend its lead back to 19-11, but Cornell fought right back with a 5-1 scoring run to make it a 20-16 game. Back-to-back kills by Missa and Cope, along with a service as by Ka'awa, highlighted the Big Red scoring spurt. The four-point margin was as close as it got, however, as the Bearcats outscored Cornell 5-1 down the stretch to take the 25-17 victory.

In the final set, the Big Red jumped out to a 6-0 lead, but Binghamton scored the next eight points to take the 8-6 lead. Cornell tied the game at 8-8, the first of 10 ties, before the Big Red registered three straight points to take a 21-19 lead. The Bearcats responded, tying the game again at 21-21. Back-to-back kills by Cope and McCarthy made it a 23-21 advantage, but Binghamton registered the next two points to make it a 23-23 game. The Bearcats registered the final two points of the game to take the 25-23 victory.

Cornell will open the home portion of its season as it hosts the Cornell Invitational on the weekend of Sept. 18-19. The Big Red will take on in-state rival Colgate on Friday evening at 7 p.m. Cornell returns the next day to take on St. John's at 11 a.m., and Buffalo at 7 p.m.