ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell volleyball team (15-5, 8-3) put up a great fight, but came up short, falling to Yale in four sets, 3-1 (26-24, 25-23, 22-25, 25-20), on Friday night at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.
Cornell was within striking distance of the Bulldogs over the course of the entire match, pushing Yale to set point in the first set, knotting things up late in the second set, stealing the third set from the Bulldogs, and holding its own throughout the fourth set. Despite how neck-and-neck Cornell and Yale were during the contest, Yale scored big points in vital situations, and it was too much for the Big Red to overcome.
Stepping into the starting role this evening, Lauren Stubbs didn't skip a beat, posting a match-high and collegiate-best 16 kills to pace the Big Red. She also contributed from the back row, notching seven digs and tallying 21 receptions with only one error.
Sophomores Madison Baptiste (13) and Avery Hanan (10) followed in Stubbs' footsteps, both recording double-digit kills. Baptiste has been the guiding force behind Cornell's game as of late, having now amassed double-digit kills in nine of the Big Red's last ten contests. After adding 10 digs on Friday night, Baptiste has posted three-straight double-doubles, continuing to show her versatility. She can do it all, recording 53 receptions and only one error this evening. In addition to Hanan's 10 kills, she contributed three digs, two assists, and two block assists.
Despite being slightly undersized compared to the Bulldogs, the Big Red held their own at the net, collecting 8.0 team blocks as compared to Yale's 6.0. Not surprisingly, it was Jada Stackhouse who led the blocking brigade, posting a match-high five block assists and adding a season-high 10 digs, six kills, one assist, and one service ace.
Jillienne Bennett also recorded her fair share of blocks, tallying the Big Red's lone solo block of the contest and two block assists. She notched eight kills as well.
Emma Worthington and Zoe Chamness split the setting responsibilities on Friday evening, recording 27 and 21 assists, respectively. Lily Barber was once again a sponge in the back row, notching a match-high 19 digs. She has now collected double-digit digs in 17 straight contests, including 12 matches of at least 15 digs.
The Big Red will be back in action tomorrow when Cornell hosts its final home match of the season against Brown at 5 p.m. at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y. Following the match, Big Red seniors Samanta Arenas, Barber, Sophia Beaudoin, Jenna Phelps, Katie Randolph, and Stackhouse will be recognized for the four years they have given to the Big Red volleyball program.
