LEWISBURG, Pa. -- The Cornell volleyball team (1-2, 0-0 Ivy) lost a tightly contested match in three sets to the Bucknell Bison on Saturday afternoon in their third and final game of the Bucknell Invitational. 

The Big Red, coming off a five-set loss to William & Mary hours earlier, fought hard with the Bisons, losing all three sets by a combined eight points. Sophomore Nicole Mallus led the Big Red with 10 kills and eight digs, while junior Camryn Carlo chipped in nine kills in the match, which saw 31 ties. 

Set One

The Big Red and Bison battled early on through the first set, with neither team giving an inch. However, Cornell did not get its first lead of the set until a block by Carlo and sophomore DogaOzalp gave the team a 10-9 advantage. The Big Red would then go on a run, winning three out of four points, forcing Bucknell to take a timeout. The break did not cool off the momentum for Cornell, as three consecutive attack errors helped push its lead to 16-12. However, the Bison stormed back, taking five of six points to knot the set at 17. After trading points again, the Bison took a 20-19 lead they would never give back, ultimately winning the first set, 25-22. 

Set Two

Like the first set, Cornell and Bucknell continued to battle early, trading the first 14 points to make it 7-7. But the Bison would put up three consecutive kills to put the Big Red in a 10-7 deficit. But Cornell would not go away quietly, winning four out of six points to tie the set at 12, highlighted by a kill apiece from Carlo, Mallus, and Ozalp. Both teams continued to trade points until a kill by Mallus gave Cornell its third lead of the set at 17-16. The momentum battle continued through the set, with five ties over the next 11 points. But the Bison took control late, rattling off three consecutive points to take the set. 

Set Three

Although the Big Red were down two sets to zero, they continued to put their foot on the gas pedal early in the third, winning seven out of the first nine points to force a Bucknell timeout. However the Bison would go on a run of their own after the timeout, taking nine of 12 points to inch ahead, 12-10. After a timeout by Cornell, the Big Red returned with a vengance, winning six of 10 points, including two kills by Carlo and Cooper, to tie things up at 16. Both teams again continued to trade points until the Big Red pushed through, taking a 22-20 lead off a Bucknell error and another kill by Carlo to force another Bison timeout. The Big Red pushed it to the limit, needing only one point to clinch the set at 24-22. But the Bison foiled that plan, winning three straight points to take the match.

Match Notes

• Saturday's loss snapped a three-match winning streak against the Bisons, dating back to Sept. 13, 2014. 
• Despite the loss, the Big Red still hold a 15-3 record over the Bisons since their first matchup on Sept. 22, 1984.

Up Next

The Big Red have a short turnaround as they welcome the Syracuse Orange to Newman Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 6, for its first home match of 2023. First serve is set for 7 p.m., and will be livestreamed on ESPN+.