ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell volleyball team used a thrilling third set victory to build momentum and force a competitive fourth set, but Dartmouth closed the door, securing a 3-1 (25-18, 25-20, 27-29, 25-22) win over the Big Red on Friday night at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.
Juniors Joanna Chang and Emma Worthington stepped up for Cornell, both notching double-doubles in the contest. Chang paced the Big Red in kills with 13 and added 10 digs, while Worthington led Cornell in assists with a match-high 33 and digs (20) for her 10th double-double of the season.
Sydney Moore and Jillienne Bennett were catalysts for the Big Red on both offense and defense, each putting down eight kills and combining for 10 of Cornell's 18 blocks in the contest. Moore had a career day, as her eight kills marked a career-high and her match-high six blocks matched a career-best. She also hit an impressive .438. Bennett had heat behind her eight kills, while adding four blocks.
Making her second start at libero, Megan Bickel was everywhere the Big Red needed her to be, collecting a team-high and career-best 23 digs and a collegiate-high five assists. Kate Stration and Jackie Baker, along with Bickel, Worthington, and Chang, also amassed double-digit digs, making five Big Red student-athletes in the double-digit dig column. Baker tallied 11, hitting double figures for the 14th time this season, while Stration posted 10. Stration shined where she has all season – from the serving line. The conference leader in aces per set, she made Dartmouth pay three times tonight.
Dartmouth took the first set with ease, but Cornell led for much of the second set. Both teams found themselves knotted up at 19-19, however, and the Big Green scored six of the last seven points of the set to win the second, 25-20, and take a 2-0 lead for the match.
The third set was a barn burner down the stretch, and Cornell battled to fend off a charging Dartmouth team to force a fourth set. With the Big Red at set point, 24-21, Dartmouth scored three-straight to tie things up, 24-24. Both teams weren't willing to give an inch, trading points back and forth. Moore, Avery Hanan, and Bennett came up big, with Moore and Bennett each notching kills and Moore and Hanan teaming up for a block to allow Cornell to keep its eyes on a third set victory. After a Dartmouth service error, Cornell led, 28-27, and Bennett left no doubt on the next serve, notching the ace to give Cornell the 29-27 win.
The Big Red used the third set win to help it find its footing in the fourth set, and when it trailed by five early, 9-4, Cornell went on a 6-2 run to pull things within one, 11-10. Bennett, Moore, and Hanan all notched kills in the run. Moore and Bennett came together for a block, and Bickel capped off the run with an ace. Although the Big Red stayed right on Dartmouth's heels for the remainder of the set, Cornell could never get over the hump and surpass the Big Green, as Dartmouth went on to win the set, 25-22, and the match, 3-1.
The Cornell volleyball team will play its final home match of the season tomorrow against Harvard for Senior Day at 5 p.m. at Newman Arena in Ithaca, N.Y.
