ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell volleyball team (3-7, 1-0 Ivy League) opened conference play with a 3-1 win over Columbia Saturday afternoon. The Big Red were led by freshman and senior outside hitters Eliza Konvicka and Joanna Chang who combined for 30 kills. Senior setter Emma Worthington covered the whole court, tallying five kills, 42 assists, two blocks, and a seven digs.

"I'm so proud of this team and how they played today after last weekend," said The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach Of Volleyball, Trudy Vande Berg. "Joanna played as well as I have ever seen her and we had so many that performed to their potential. It was a true team effort and was fun to watch."

Cornell opened a tight first set at 5-5, before going on a 4-0 run to force a Columbia timeout. Cornell did not trial again until 17-16 when Cornell committed an attack error. Columbia continued to build. its lead until 20-17 when Cornell called its first timeout. The Big Red battled back to a 24-22 deficit, but Columbia took set one, 25-22.

Columbia jumped out to a quick lead in set two, going up 4-2 before Cornell found its rhythm. The Big Red tallied a 6-0 run powered by three kills from Konvicka. The Red attack kept rolling to a 17-11 lead, when Columbia called its second timeout. Six players tallied points for the Big Red on the way to a 25-17 win to secure set two and tie the game at one set a piece.

In the third set, Cornell took a quick 5-1 lead. Columbia responded with a timeout, but the Big Red attack only built on its lead, going up 8-2 before a second timeout from the Lions. Columbia battled back to trail only two at 14-12, but the Big Red allowed just six more points before taking the set 25-18, and taking a 2-1 lead in the match.

Cornell trailed just once in set four, when the Lions won the first point of the set. The Big Red dominated the rest of the set, leading by as many as 11 at 19-8 and 21-10. Columbia went on a late 5-1 run, but Cornell closed out set four 25-16, and took the match 3-1.

UP NEXT
The Big Red continue the stretch of home matches with a Friday, September 30 night match against Brown at 7 p.m. The team rounds out the weekend with a 5 p.m. match against Yale on Saturday, October 1. Attendance at both matches is free. For those at home, the games will be streamed via ESPN+.