MATCH INFORMATION
MATCH #1: Cornell vs. Colgate
MATCH TIME: Friday, Sept. 2, 2016; 7:00 p.m.
MATCH SITE: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
SERIES RECORD: Cornell leads, 54-29-1
LAST MEETING: Colgate won, 3-1; Sept. 20, 2014
2016 RECORDS: Cornell (0-0, 0-0 Ivy); Colgate (1-1, 0-0 Patriot League)
 
MATCH #2: Cornell vs. James Madison
MATCH TIME: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016; 11:00 a.m.
MATCH SITE: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
SERIES RECORD: Cornell leads, 1-0
LAST MEETING: Cornell won, 3-2; Nov. 11, 1992
* 2016 RECORDS: Cornell (0-0, 0-0 Ivy); James Madison (3-1, 0-0 CAA)
 
MATCH #3: Cornell vs. Marist
MATCH TIME: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016; 7:00 p.m.
MATCH SITE: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
SERIES RECORD: Cornell leads, 1-0
LAST MEETING: Cornell won, 3-0; Nov. 4, 1988
* 2016 RECORDS: Cornell (0-0, 0-0 Ivy); Marist (0-3, 0-0 MAAC)
 
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL (Live Stats/Video Links)
 
*records prior to Friday's contests
 
THE CORNELL INVITATIONAL: The Big Red volleyball team opens up the 2016 season this weekend when it hosts the 2016 Cornell Invitational. The home opener comes against Colgate on Friday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. The following day, the Big Red will face James Madison at 11 a.m., before closing the tournament against Marist at 7:00 p.m. The Cornell Invitational opens  when James Madison takes on Marist on Friday at 5 p.m. Additional games on Saturday will feature Marist vs. Colgate (1:00 p.m.), and Colgate vs. James Madison (5:00 p.m.). Live stats and live video (pay-per-view) will be available for all six matches.

* Parking on the Cornell campus is restricted on weekdays prior to 5 p.m. Visitors arriving on Friday before 5 p.m. will need to visit a Parking Information booth, as all lots around central campus require permits until that time. There are also several metered lots on campus that can be utilized.
 
FRESHMAN FREE PIZZA FRIDAY: For the game with Colgate on Friday night, Cornell freshmen in attendance will get a free slice of pizza, while supplies last!
 
THE SERIES VS. COLGATE: The Big Red has a history of success against the Raiders, holding a 54-29-1 advantage in the all-time series, which dates back to 1972, the very first season of varsity volleyball in Cornell history. The Raiders have had the upper hand recently, winning seven of the last eight meetings, including a 3-1 victory at the 2014 Otto Invitational in Syracuse, N.Y.
 
VS. THE PATRIOT LEAGUE: The Big Red is 88-42-1 against the current members of the Patriot League, thanks mostly to a 54-29-1 record over Colgate. Cornell also has a winning record against Army (6-2), Bucknell (13-2), Holy Cross (4-0), Lafayette (4-1) and Lehigh (5-2). The Big Red's series with Navy is tied at 2-2, while American is the only team in the Patriot League with a winning record against Cornell (4-0) … The Big Red has never played the two newest members of the league – Boston University or Loyola ... Coach Vande Berg is 0-1 against the Patriot League.
 
THE SERIES VS. JAMES MADISON: Cornell is 1-0 all-time vs. JMU, winning the lone meeting 3-1 during the 1992 season.
 
VS. THE CAA: The Big Red has a 14-22 record all-time against the current members of the CAA. Cornell holds a winning record vs. James Madison (1-0), Towson (3-2), and William & Mary (3-1), but a losing mark vs. Delaware (2-3), Hofstra (1-7), or Northeastern (4-9). The Big Red has never faced Charleston, Elon, or UNC-Williamsburg in women's volleyball … Coach Vande Berg is 1-0 against the CAA after earning her first head coaching victory with a 3-1 decision over William & Mary.
 
THE SERIES VS. LOYOLA-CHICAGO: The Big Red is 1-0 all-time vs. Marist, winning the lone meeting 3-0 during the 1988 season.
 
VS. THE MAAC: The Big Red has dominated the current members of the MAAC, posting a combined record of 37-9 against the conference. Cornell holds winning records vs. Canisius (7-1), Fairfield (3-1), Iona (3-1), Marist (1-0), Niagara (11-1), Rider (4-1) and Siena (6-1). Only one MAAC school – Manhattan (1-0) – holds a winning mark against the Big Red, while the series with Saint Peter's is tied (2-2). Cornell has never faced Quinnipiac in volleyball … Coach Vande Berg is 1-0 against the MAAC after defeating Iona last season.
 
THE HEAD COACH: Trudy Vande Berg is in her second season as The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach Of Volleyball at Cornell (6-18, .250) ... Vande Berg became the 11th head coach in Cornell volleyball history in March 2015 after spending three seasons as the Big Red's top assistant coach ... Prior to her time at Cornell, Vande Berg spent time as an assistant coach at North Florida, Duke, and Iowa State and as a volunteer assistant at Wisconsin. She also served as head coach of the Team Iowa Ice professional club in the Premier Volleyball League, where she guided the team to the championship in her second year at the helm.
 
SEASON PREIVEW
After three seasons with one of the youngest rosters in the nation, the Big Red volleyball team will enter the 2016 campaign with seven upperclassmen, all of whom have significant playing experience, and are eager to move Cornell into the top half of the Ivy standings.
 
"We finally have some depth," says Trudy Vande Berg, The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach Of Volleyball at Cornell. "And not just depth, but experienced depth. It feels great to have a talented freshmen class that is challenging the upperclassmen for playing time, but as a coaching staff we don't need to rely on those freshmen to come in and start for us when they're not ready."
 
Having that experienced depth has also allowed the coaching staff to adjust the team's style of play and move to a more up-tempo system.
 
"Our offense has the potential to be explosive," says Vande Berg. "It starts at the back with ball control. We're digging more balls in system, which is allowing us to run our offense more efficiently and put pressure on the other team. It can be really exciting to watch."
 
Setters
A key to running this new offensive system will be the Big Red's core of experienced setters, beginning with incumbent starter Alyssa Phelps. The senior will enter the 2016 season ranked fifth overall in Cornell history with 2,344 career assists. Phelps also helps the Cornell offense with her ability to hit and her deceptive setter's dump.  
 
"Alyssa spent the summer working on her decision making," says Vande Berg. "She's done a great job of transitioning to the faster offense and she's ready to take that next step in her career."
 
Sophomore Lauren Donnelly saw significant action as a rookie and will rely on that experience as she battles classmate Gabby Goodall and freshman Katie Randolph. Goodall saw action in just two matches early in her rookie year before suffering a season ending injury, while Randolph was the Chicago Tribune Pioneer Press Player of the Year as a senior in high school. 
 
Middle Blockers
After a myriad of injuries that have hampered her progress at Cornell, senior Macey Wilson worked extremely hard over the summer, is playing up to her expectations, and looking to make an impact in the Ivy League. A year ago, she led the team in hitting percentage (.253), while ranking fourth on the team in kills per set (1.88). She also finished the year with 79 block assists, good for 19th overall in Cornell history for block assists in a single season. 
 
Sophomore Zoe Lequeux saw limited time as a rookie, but has come back ready to battle for a spot at middle blocker. She learned a great deal a year ago and has made great strides heading into the 2016 campaign.
 
A pair of rookies – Jenna Phelps and Jada Stackhouse – are also pushing for playing time.
 
"Jenna and Jada are doing an amazing job of quickly learning our system," says Vande Berg. "They're both working extremely hard and I'm really happy with what they bring to the program. They have different styles and strengths but I'm excited for the future of these two."
  
Outside Hitters
Cornell returns three outside hitters from a year ago –Carla Sganderlla, Emily Wemhoff, and Maddy Sruofe.
 
Sganderlla had a breakout rookie season, leading the Big Red with 2.64 kills per set and registering double-digit kills seven times. She posted a season-high 24 kills vs. Penn in the season finale, the most kills by a Cornell player since Elizabeth Bishop registered 27 vs. the Quakers on Nov 10, 2006.
 
Despite dealing with numerous injuries during her sophomore season, Wemhoff still ranked second on the team with 2.38 kills per set, while hitting .161 percent. 
 
Sroufe had a slow start to her sophomore season, but finished strong, posting all four of her double-digit kill performances in Cornell's Ivy League matches. An incredibly powerful hitter, when it came to Ancient Eight competition, she ranked second on the team with 2.25 kills per set. 
 
Also battling for playing time will be rookies Samanta Arenas and Sophia Beaudoin,
 
"Sam is learning a lot," says Vande Berg. "She's like a sponge and I think she will be able to contribute this year. And Sophia is just a lot of fun to watch. She's incredibly competitive and just never gives up on a play."
 
Rightside Hitters
A pair of upperclassmen will anchor the rightside, including returning starter Kit McCarty. A year ago, McCarty ranked fourth on the team with 1.88 kills per set and was fourth on the team with a .166 hitting percentage.
 
Battling McCarty on the rightside is sophomore Kara Rogers, who saw action in 18 matches a year ago. She averaged 1.20 kills per set, while hitting .186 percent, improving in both categories in Ivy League play.   
 
"Kit played volleyball in California all summer long and it shows," says Vande Berg. "She's improved both her volleyball IQ and her skills, but Kara came back in great shape and is really battling for playing time.
 
Defensive Specialists
The roster features five defensive specialists, including four returning letter winners in juniors Chelsea Sincox and Kiley McPeek, and sophomores Shae Bauchens, and Natalie Danenhauer.
 
Sincox took over as the team's libero as a sophomore and had an outstanding campaign, ranking sixth in the Ivy League with 4.0 digs per set. Her 364 digs on the year ranked 12th in Cornell history for digs in a single season and her 4.0 digs per set was good for 11th overall in Big Red history. 
 
Danenhauer had an outstanding rookie campaign as the team's primary defensive specialist, playing in 21 matches with five starts. She finished the year ranked second on the team with 2.93 digs per set, a mark that jumped to 3.48 in Ivy League action. 
 
McPeek saw action in 19 matches during her sophomore season and ranked third on the team with 2.00 digs per set, while Bauchens saw action in 16 matches and averaged 1.93 digs per set.
 
"As a group our defensive specialists are more disciplined," says Vande Berg. "Our first contact is much more consistent and were able to transition out of digs to run our offense more efficiently. The returners have really come a long way."
 
Pushing the returners is rookie Lily Barber, a three-time Marin County Athletic League selection. As a member of Absolute Volleyball Club, she helped the team to qualify to the 2014 and 2015 USA Volleyball Junior Nationals, winning the bronze medal in the USA Division in 2014.
 
"Lily did a great job in both of our scrimmages," says Vande Berg. "She was really solid and her abilities have pushed the entire defensive specialist group to be better."