ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell volleyball team lost to Stetson in straight sets to close out the South Florida Invitational. Sophomore Brooke Cooper and Freshman Nicole Mallus each tallied nine kills for the Big Red. Cornell recorded eight aces as a team.

The Hatters took away set one 25-15, but the Big Red battled in set two. Stetson opened on a 6-1 run, but the Big Red answered with a 4-0 run that was concluded with an ace by Sammie Engel. The Hatters came back with a 4-0 run to take a 10-5 lead, but Cornell battled to tie the match at 13. The Big Red continued a 3-2 run to take a 16-15 lead. Stetson then went on a 3-0 run to take an 18-16 lead, which they maintained for the remainder of the set to win 25-22.

Set three opened with back-and-forth play. The Big Red and the Hatters had 4 tied scores between first serve and scoreline 5-5. Stetson then broke into a 12-4 run to take a 17-9 lead. Cornell returned with an 11-3 run that brought the Big Red to a one-point deficit at 21-20. The Hatters swung the momentum to clost set three on a 4-0 run and earn the 3-0 sweep.

UP NEXT
Cornell opens up its Ivy League season with a home match vs. Columbia on Saturday, September 24 at 2 p.m. in Newman Arena at Bartels Hall. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.