ITHACA, N.Y. -- Senior Alexa Orent put on a masterclass for the Cornell volleyball team against Harvard, netting a career-high 11 kills in a three-set sweep (25-21, 25-17, 27-25) of the Crimson on Saturday night from Newman Arena at Bartels Hall. 

The Sherborn, Mass. native broke her former high of five in a five-set heartbreaking loss to William and Mary on Sept. 2nd. Orent was not the only one with double-digit kills for the Big Red, as sophomore Eliza Konvicka had 14. Other notables in the win for the red and white were sophomore Nicole Mallus with nine kills, junior Camryn Carlo (five kills, team-high six blocks, and .455 hitting percentage), and senior Sydney Moore (three kills, three blocks). Sophomore setter Doga Ozalp also had a fantastic showing for Cornell, dishing out 33 assists and a career-high five blocks. Ashley Wang led the Crimson with 11 kills and 12 assists, who dropped to 9-3 overall and 2-1 in Ivy League play. 

Cornell did not start out the match like they wanted, as Harvard burst out of the gates with a 5-1 run to open the first. But the Big Red weathered the storm, going on a 5-1 run to grab its first lead of the set at 7-6, highlighted by Carlo and Ozalp teaming up for two blocks. The Crimson would stay within striking distance, cutting Cornell's lead to one later in the set on a kill by Wang to make it 20-19. Once again, the Big Red did not back down, as a kill by Orent and a bad set by the Crimson sealed the first set for Cornell. 

The start of the second set was the complete opposite of how the first started, as Cornell raced ahead with a 9-4 lead to force a Crimson timeout. Harvard would claw its way back later in the set, cutting the deficit to 16-14 to force a Big Red timeout. The break proved costly for the Crimson, as a 3-0 lead pushed the lead up to five. And the Big Red would not take its foot off the pedal, as an Ozalp kill gave Cornell the second set. The red and white had a game-high .348 hitting percentage in the second, with Konvicka, Mallus, and Orent recording three kills each. 

But nothing could prepare fans inside Newman Arena for what was coming in the third set. Both teams struggled for positioning throughout the first half until Harvard edged ahead halfway through at 15-13. The Big Red continued to try and wrestle the momentum back, and it got its chance late in the set. Harvard was one point away from forcing the match to a fourth set at 24-22 until Konvicka netted two kills to put the red and white one point away from winning the mat. The Crimson would tie things at 25 to push the set into extra points. But Carlo came up clutch, scoring consecutive kills to clinch the match.

Cornell dominated Harvard in all statistical categories, including assists (38-26), blocks (10.0 - 6.0), hitting percentage (.229 - .030), and kills (42-27). 

Game Notes:

• Cornell improves to 20-13 overall at Newman Arena at Bartels Hall against Harvard all-time. 
• The Big Red held the Crimson to a season-low .030 hitting percentage in Saturday's win. It is also the lowest Harvard has hit since posting a .000 last season against Duke on Sept. 17, 2022.
• Sophomore Eliza Konvicka now has 33 career kills against Harvard. 
• Camryn Carlo's six blocks are the most the junior has had in a match this season since recording eight in a four-set loss to UAlbany on Sept. 9. 
• Sophomore Doga Ozalp recorded 30+ assists for the seventh time in twelve matches this season. 
• Cornell dominated the third set with 18 kills compared to 13 for Harvard. 

Up Next

Cornell continues its home slate of Ivy League action next weekend with matches against Yale (Friday, Oct. 6, 7:00 p.m.) and Brown (Saturday, Oct. 7, 5:00 p.m.). Both matches will be streamed on ESPN+.