ITHACA, N.Y. – After spending the past two weekends of Ivy League play on the road, the Big Red volleyball team returned to Newman Arena and earned a statement win over two-time reigning conference champion Princeton, handing the Tigers their first Ivy loss of the season. The win – Cornell's first in the series since 2013 – snapped Princeton's eight-match Ivy winning streak, and ended its seven-match streak against the Big Red.   
 
After a losing a lead late in the first set and falling, 26-24, the Big Red rebounded with three straight victories, 25-21, 25-22, 25-14, to improve to 7-8 on the year and 3-3 in the Ivy League.
 
"Everyone came together and did exactly what we need them to do to be successful against a team like Princeton," said Trudy Vande Berg, The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach Of Volleyball.
 
The victory was a total team effort with outstanding performances up-and-down the lineup. Junior Kara Rogers had the best night of her career with 15 kills, a blistering .455 hitting percentage (15-0-33), and five block assists from the right side. Sophomore outside Samanta Arenas also finished in double-digits (12), while Kit McCarty was extremely effective with seven kills and only one error on 33 attempts. The Big Red's middle blockers were solid, as Jada Stackhouse had a match-high .471 hitting percentage (9-1-17) to go along with four block assists, while Jenna Phelps finished with seven total blocks (one solo) and five service aces.
 
"Kara played so well," said Vande Berg. "She found the spots on the court. She kept it moving. She blocked really well."  
 
Defensively, libero Kiley McPeek finished with a career-high 35 digs, a mark good for 13th in Cornell history for digs in a set, and third overall for digs in a four-set match.  McPeek was one of four Big Red players to register double-digits, along with Zoe Chamness (13), Chelsea Sincox (12), and Lily Barber (10).  
 
"We were incredibly disciplined on our block and on defense, hence Kiley getting 35 digs," said Vande Berg. "We took care of the Princeton players that they usually depend on in tight situations. It doesn't really show up in the stats, but Emily Wemhoff was matched up against their big rightside [Maggie O'Connell], who was all conference last year and hits above .300. We needed Emily, because she's our best leftside blocker, to be on her, so not only did O'Connell only have nine kills, but she hit .059 with seven errors and that had a lot to do with Emily.
 
Chamness and Sincox both finished with 22 assists.
 
"Our setters did a great job with the game plan," said Vande Berge. "We talked about establishing our middle and rightside to open up for our pin hitters. They both set beautifully tonight."
 
Princeton (12-4, 5-1) was led by Natasha Skov's 14 kills. Devon Peterkin also finished with 10 kills, but had 10 errors as well. Maggie O'Connell, one of the top hitters in the conference, finished with just nine kills, while Nnenna Ibe, who leads the Ivy League in hitting percentage, finished at just .100 for the contest (6-4-20).
 
Cornell is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 14, when it takes on Penn at Newman Arena at 5 p.m. The Big Red will also hold its annual Middle School & High School Night on Saturday. In addition to in-match promotions Cornell team members will meet fans and sign posters following the contest.