Box Score PROVIDENCE, R.I. – After dropping the first two sets to a scrappy and opportunistic Brown volleyball team, the Big Red came back and won two in a row to force a decisive fifth set, but came up just short, falling to the Bears, 3-2 (20-25, 16-25, 25-23, 25-20, 13-15).

Rachel D'Epagnier had an outstanding game, registering 18 kills and just four errors on 36 attempts for a .389 hitting percentage, while Breanna Wong and Grayce Campbell finished with 16 and 11 kills, respectively. Wong had a double-double, adding 12 digs, as one of four Big Red players to finish in double digits along with Natasha Rowland (20), Alyssa Phelps (12) and Sierra Young (11). Phelps also handed out 42 assists and had eight kills and three errors on 21 attempts (.238). Freshman Macey Wilson was also solid with seven kills and just one error on 16 attempts (.375) to go along with six blocks (two solo).

Brown (10-12, 6-5 Ivy) was led by Amanda Nickel's 18 kills and five blocks. Thea Derrough and Mddie Lord finished with 12 and 10 kills, respectively. Setters Sarah Lucenti (28) and Maryl Vanden bos (25) combined for 53 assists, with Lucenti tying Kathryn Conner with a team-high 16 digs.

The fifth set was incredibly dramatic, with the Bears holding a slim lead throughout the majority of the set. Trailing 12-11, Cornell used a block from Wong and D'Epagnier, followed by a D'Epagnier kill to go up, 13-12, its first lead in the set since 3-2, forcing Brown to take a timeout. Unfortunately, the Bears managed to regroup and finish strong, using kills by Nickel and Derrough, and a service ace from Lucenti to earn the win.

In a match that was closely contested throughout, the Bears managed to pull away late in each of the first two sets to earn the victories. Cornell responded in the third set, however and used some timely kills from Wilson, Kramer and D'Epagnier to build a 19-14 lead. After seeing the lead stretch to five points (21-16) on a kill from D'Epagnier, Brown pulled within one-point four times down the stretch but each time Cornell battled back, eventually winning 25-23 on a kill from Wong.

The fourth set was also a back-and-forth battle with 11 ties and six lead changes before Cornell used an 8-2 run to blow open the contest and take a 22-16 lead. During the run, the Big Red registered seven kills – two from D'Epagnier, two from Phelps, two from Campbell and one from Sarah Kramer. From there, the visitors rolled to the 25-20 victory.

Cornell is back in action tomorrow when it takes on Ivy League leader Yale at 5 p.m.