PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Big Red overcame a loss in the first set (24-26), and late deficits in both the third and fourth sets to escape the Pizzitola Center with a 3-1 victory over Brown this evening. Cornell took the final three sets by scores of 25-18, 25-23, and 26-24. With the win, the Big Red improves to 5-6 overall and evens its Ivy League record at 2-2.
Jenna Phelps had one of the best nights of her career, posting a team-high in kills (12), hitting percentage (.259) and service aces (7). Her seven aces are good for fourth all-time in Cornell history and were just one off of the school record, held by Ann Korioth, Jennifer Borncamp, and Liz Downs. Phelps also finished with four blocks (two solo) and a career-high nine digs.
Kara Rogers also had a solid outing with 11 kills and a .219 hitting percentage (11-4-32), while
Samanta Arenas and
Emily Wemhoff chipped in eight kills apiece.
Defensively,
Jada Stackhouse finished with seven block assists in front of four Big Red with double-digit digs.
Kiley McPeek led the way with 22 digs, while Arenas posted 16 and
Chelsea Sincox and
Zoe Chamness tallied 13 and 11, respectively.
Sincox also finished the evening with 22 assists and Chamness chipped in 12.
Brown (5-10, 0-4 Ivy) was led by Makena Ehlert, Sabrina Stillwell and Shirin Tooloee with eight kills apiece, but of the three, only Ehlert hit above .200 (8-3-25). As a team, the Bears hit just .079 (43-30-164).
After dropping the first set in a back-and-fourth battle that ended in a 26-24 Brown victory, Cornell led wire-to-wire in the second to win, 25-18.
The Big Red found itself down by two late in the third (23-21), but three straight Bear errors gave the visitors set-point and Phelps nailed an ace to end it, 25-23.
Brown took control of the fourth set early and eventually pushed its lead to 17-12, but a kill from Phelps opened a 6-0 run that handed Cornell an 18-17 lead. The Bears fought back to regain the 21-18 advantage but back-to-back kills from Rogers and Stackhouse opened up another 6-0 run, featuring a pair of aces from Phelps, to put Cornell up, 24-21. Brown had one last push to knot the set at 24-24, but a crafty roll shot by Rogers, followed by a big block from Wemhoff and Stackhouse gave the Big Red the 26-24 victory.
Cornell is back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 7, when it travels to Yale for a game at 5 p.m.
