DURHAM, N.C. – The Cornell volleyball team took on the host Blue Devils in the final game of the Duke Classic, falling in straight sets, 3-0 (22-25, 20-25, 20-25), on Saturday afternoon at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C.
The Big Red will return to Ithaca having gone 1-1 on the weekend after sweeping LIU yesterday, 3-0 (26-24, 25-23, 25-23), posting a 4-4 nonconference record on the season. Following today's game, senior right side hitter Jillienne Bennett and senior middle blocker Casey Justus both earned spots on the Duke Classic All-Tournament team.
Bennett was one of the key contributors in Saturday's contest against the Blue Devils, notching seven kills and adding a pair of digs, a block, and an assist. Only Madison Baptiste recorded more kills for the Big Red on Saturday, recording a team-high eight to go along with 10 digs and two blocks. M. Baptiste was one of three Cornell student-athletes to amass double-digit digs, the others being Emma Worthington (10) and Rylee Baptiste (12). R. Baptiste's 12 digs was not only a team-high, but a collegiate best.
Casey Justus completed the trifecta of All-Tournament teams, having earned a spot on The Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel Volleyball Classic, the Cornell Invitational, and now the Duke Classic All-Tournament teams. Justus tallied six kills against the Blue Devils, in addition to two block assists.
Freshman Camryn Carlo also delivered in the block category, securing a solo block and a pair of block assists. The Big Red blocked well on Saturday, edging out the Blue Devils with 6.0 blocks as compared to Duke's 5.0.
Kate Stration continues to step up to the serving line with confidence, posting three aces today, more than half of Cornell's team total (5). This marks Stration's fifth match this season that she has recorded multiple aces in a match.
Duke only tallied one more ace than Cornell on the match, but the Blue Devils took advantage of the Big Red on the attack, notching 44 kills as opposed to Cornell's 30 and out-hitting the Big Red .244 to .171. Duke also notched 37 assists as compared to Cornell's 27. Worthington notched 20 of the Big Red's 27 assists, and with her 10 digs, secured her sixth double-double in eight matches this season.
The Cornell volleyball team will open Ivy League action next weekend when it squares off against Columbia on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. at Levien Gymnasium in New York, N.Y.
