ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell volleyball team kept things close in the first set of Friday's match against Dartmouth. But the Big Red could not grab the momentum, losing in straight sets. Cornell dropped to 3-8 overall and 1-1 in the Ivy League, while the Big Green improved to 4-7 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Sophomore Nicole Mallus led the attack for the Big Red with ten kills and a .238 hitting percentage, while Eliza Konvicka had six in the loss for Cornell. Kauany Gutz (10 kills) and Bom iOguniari (9 kills) led the sheet for Dartmouth, who have now won six straight matches against Cornell.
Dartmouth had the edge in the statistical department over Cornell, including kills (48-27), assists (46-26), digs (41-31), and hitting percentage (.340 - .122).
Cornell's best set came in the second, as the Big Red had 11 kills and a .276 hitting percentage, with four of those kills coming from Mallus. The Big Red stayed within striking distance the entire set, cutting its deficit to six on a kill by senior Sydney Moore. But it was not enough, as the Big Green went on a 9-3 run to clinch the set, 25-13. The momentum carried over for the Big Green into the third set, as they took it 25-18 to win the match, dropping Cornell to 3-8 on the year.
Match Notes
- Despite the loss, the Big Red still holds a 24-9 margin at home against the Big Green.
- Mallus' 10 kills are the third time this season that the sophomore has registered double-digit kills in a set.
- Cornell's four blocks on Friday night snap the Big Red's streak of five or more blocks as a team at ten.
- 10 Big Red athletes recorded a kill in the loss, including freshman Jaida Sione, who recorded her 80th kill of the season during the first set.
Up Next
Cornell rounds out homecoming weekend with a matchup against Harvard on Saturday, with the opening set scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
