ITHACA, N.Y. – After starting the season with a 7-2 non-conference record, the Cornell volleyball team will begin its Ivy League slate against Columbia Saturday at 2 p.m. at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.

MATCH INFORMATION

Match #10: Cornell vs. Columbia
Match Time: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019 at 2 p.m.
Match Site: Newman Arena (Ithaca, N.Y.)
Series Record: Cornell leads, 54-14
Last Meeting: Cornell won, 3-2; Oct. 20, 2018
2019 Records: Cornell (7-2, 0-0 Ivy); Columbia (7-2, 0-0 Ivy League)
Live Stats: https://cornellbigred.com/sidearmstats/wvball/summary
Live Video (ESPN+): https://es.pn/2mFgmTI

THE WEEKEND:

Saturday's contest will be a battle between two teams that have opened the season with a 7-2 record. Cornell, who is currently on a five-game win streak after going 3-0 at the Blue and White Classic last weekend, is off to its best start since the 2005 season. Columbia is on a streak of their own, winning its last four matches.
 
For fans who can't be in attendance Saturday, the game will be streamed on ESPN+ and live stats will also be available.

THE SERIES VS. COLUMBIA:

The Big Red and the Lions have squared of 68 times since the series started in 1977, with Cornell holding a distinct 54-14 record over Columbia. The Big Red won both of the teams' matchups during the 2018 season, with Cornell prevailing 3-1 at Columbia and defeating the Lions at Newman Arena, 3-2. Last season marked the first time that the Big Red had swept Columbia since 2013.

SCOUTING THE LIONS:

Columbia is led by senior middle blocker Chichi Ikwauzom, who is having a spectacular season thus far after missing half of the 2018 campaign due to injury. A 2016 and 2017 first team All-Ivy League selection and the 2016 Ivy League Co-Rookie of the Year, Ikwauzom has come back stronger than before. The reigning Sports Import/American Volleyball Coaches Association National Player of the Week, Ikwauzom ranks second in the country in kills per set (5.89), fourth in points per set (6.42), fifth in hitting percentage (.476), ninth in total points (231.0) and 11th total kills (212). Ikwauzom has also been named the Ivy League Player of the Week in each of the past three weeks, currently leading the conference in kills and hitting percentage.
 
Audrey Chang has been another key performer for the Lions so far this season, tallying 344 assists (9.56/set) and 106 digs (2.94/set) through the Lions' nine contests. As a team, Columbia currently leads the Ivy League in hitting percentage (.268), assists (12.97/set), and kills (13.69/set).

NCAA INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS:

The following Cornell players entered the week ranked in the top 100 of the NCAA in their respective statistical categories:
* Jada Stackhouse – 19th in Hitting Percentage (.440), 45th in Blocks/Set (1.30)
* Jenna Phelps – 22nd in Hitting Percentage (.434)
* Lily Barber – 59th in Aces/Set (0.47)

NCAA TEAM RANKINGS:

As a team, the Big Red entered the week ranked in the top 100 of the NCAA in the following statistical categories:
* 9th in Opponent Hitting Percentage (.148)
* 23rd in Aces/Set (1.82)
* 29th in Hitting Percentage (.279)
* 54th in Blocks/Set (2.40)
* 86th in Kills/Set (13.15)
* 92nd in Assists/Set (12.09)

INDIVIDUAL IVY RANKINGS: 

The following Cornell student-athletes are currently ranked among the best in the Ivy League in their respective statistical categories:
* Jada Stackhouse – 1st in Blocks/Set (1.30), 3rd in Hitting Percentage (.422)
* Jenna Phelps – 2nd in Hitting Percentage (.447)
* Lily Barber – 3rd in Aces/Set (0.47), 4th in Digs/Set (3.74)
* Emma Worthington – 6th in Assists/Set (5.43), 10th in Aces/Set (0.37)
* Zoe Chamness – 7th in Assists/Set (5.19)

IVY RANKINGS:

In addition to ranking ninth in the NCAA in opponent hitting percentage (.148), Cornell sits atop the Ivy League in this statistical category. The Big Red is also leading the conference in blocks/set (2.40) and aces/set (1.82).

MOVING ON UP:

The following Big Red student-athletes find themselves moving up the Cornell career records following the first three weekends of play:
* Jenna Phelps – 7th in Block Assists (249), 19th in Solo Blocks (29), 24th in Total Points (747.5)
* Zoe Chamness – 12th in Assists (1,278)
* Jada Stackhouse – 13th in Block Assists (198), 18th in Solo Blocks (32)
* Lily Barber – 13th in Digs (902), 21st in Assists (257)

THE BLUE AND WHITE CLASSIC:

The Big Red posted a perfect 3-0 record to win Buffalo's Blue and White Classic last weekend, recording victories over Canisius (3-0), Buffalo (3-2), and Saint Francis (3-0).
 
Following the tournament, senior middle blocker Jenna Phelps was named the Blue and White Classic tournament MVP after averaging 8.67 kills and four block assists per game to go along with a 0.433 hitting percentage over the Big Red's three matches. This marked the senior's second all-tournament team selection of the season, after being named to the Bay Area Invitational all-tournament team earlier in the season.
 
Senior middle blocker Jada Stackhouse and freshman outside hitter Joanna Chang also earned spots on the Blue and White Classic all-tournament team. Stackhouse is having a phenomenal senior campaign, having earned a spot on the all-tournament team at all three non-conference tournaments in which the Big Red competed this season. Last weekend, Stackhouse averaged five kills and 2.0 blocks per game in contests against Canisius and Saint Francis.

Chang earned the first all-tournament team honor of her young career after averaging 8.67 kills, 8.00 digs, 1.67 service aces, and one block assist per game over the three game tournament.

PRESEASON POLL: 

After back-to-back third place Ivy League finishes in 2017 and 2018, the Big Red was selected to once again place third in 2019, the Ivy League announced in its preseason poll on August 29. The Big Red, who received a total of 91 points in the preseason poll, are coming off a season that saw the team go 14-10 overall and 9-5 in conference play, posting the most conference wins since the 2008 campaign.
 
Princeton, who received a league-high 10 first place votes and a total of 120 points, was chosen as the preseason Ivy League favorite. Yale, the 2018 Ivy League Champion, was picked second with five first place votes and 117 points. Harvard received the final first place vote, and was chosen to finish behind Cornell in fourth with 80 points.

A PROGRAM ON THE RISE: 

Over the course of the past two years, the Big Red volleyball program has been on the up-and-up, with their back-to-back third place Ivy League finishes marking the best consecutive seasons by Cornell since the program won three straight titles following a second place finish from 2003-06. This season, the team is ready to break through the third place barrier, having their sights set on an Ivy League title.

THE HEAD COACH: 

The Big Red is led by Trudy Vande Berg, The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach of Volleyball. Now in her fifth season (51-53), Vande Berg became the 11th head coach in Cornell volleyball history in March 2015 after spending three years with the Big Red as an assistant coach. The 2017 Ivy League Coach of the Year, Vande Berg has been the guiding force of the Big Red's recent success.

STRENGTH COMES IN NUMBERS:

The Cornell roster is filled with experience and depth, as the squad returns 15 letter winners from 2018, including four All-Ivy League performers. Seniors Samanta Arenas and Jenna Phelps and sophomore Jilliene Bennett will all be faces to watch after earning second team All-Ivy League distinction last year. Senior libero Lily Barber will be a key component of the Big Red defense, coming off of an All-Ivy League Honorable Mention nod in 2018.

FRESH NEW FACES:

Joanna Chang, Riley Hazelrigg, Evan Reich, and Emma Worthington are the newest members of the Cornell volleyball squad, joining the team for the 2019 season. The group, who is making an immediate impact for the Big Red, consists of one pin hitter, one setter, and two defensive specialists.

UP NEXT: 

The Big Red will hit the road for a pair of Ivy League contests against Penn and Princeton. Cornell will take on Penn Friday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. in Philadelphia, Pa., before heading to Princeton, N.J. to face the Tigers Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m.