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Cornell University Athletics

Nicole Mallus Serves a volleyball during Cornell volleyball's match against Syracuse on Sept. 6, 2023 at Newman Arena at Bartels Hall in Ithaca, N.Y.
Lexi Woodcock/Cornell Athletics
3
Winner Syracuse SU 1-6,0-0 ACC
1
Cornell CU 1-3,0-0 Ivy League
Winner
Syracuse SU
1-6,0-0 ACC
3
Final
1
Cornell CU
1-3,0-0 Ivy League
Set Scores
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Syracuse SU 25 25 19 25 (3)
Cornell CU 18 19 25 21 (1)

Game Recap: Volleyball |

Cornell Falls in Four Sets to Syracuse

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell volleyball team battled the humidity and the Syracuse Orange on Wednesday night from Newman Arena at Bartels Hall, losing 3-1 (18-25,19-25, 25-19, 21-25). Cornell fell to 1-3 and the Orange improved to 1-6 on the season.

Sophomore Eliza Konvicka netted a team-high nine kills and one block for the Big Red, while Nicole Mallus had eight kills and six digs. Sophomore Doga Ozalp also put in a good showing with 15 assists and 12 digs and Joy Liu recorded a career-high 12 assists in the defeat for Cornell. Cherlin Antonio paced Syracuse with a team-high 18 kills and seven digs and Mira Ledermueller had 36 assists in the win for the Orange, which extended its winning streak over the Big Red to eight matches. 

Both teams looked similar in the box score, with Syracuse having the slight advantage in kills (43-38), assists (39-34), and digs (50-49). The highlight of the match for the Big Red came early in the third set, as a uniform change jolted Cornell on a 10-0 run, highlighted by six combined kills between Konvicka and junior Alexa Orent. The team also record a match-high .263 hitting percentage to go along with 15 kills in a set that saw 12 different players appear. Cornell would never give the lead back in the set, clinching a six-point victory to push the match to a fourth set. 
Despite the momentum swing, the Big Red could not sustain the advantage in the fourth set, as Syracuse ran out of the gates with a 5-0 run to the put pressure on. Cornell would cut the deficit to as low as one, but the Orange ran away late with three out of four points to win the set and the match, giving the team its first win of the season. 

Sophomore Megan Gaffigan saw the floor for the first time this season for the Big Red, recording five kills and a team-high .333 hitting percentage on the night. Both teams battled through the heat and humidity inside Newman Arena all night long, as temperatures outside soared past 90 degrees.    
 

Match Highlights

  • Jackie Baker recorded consecutive aces in the third set to help put together a 4-0 scoring run. The junior libero led the Big Red with 29 aces last season. 
  • Cornell's 10-0 run to begin the third set is the longest streak so far this season.
  • Wednesday's loss extended Cornell's losing streak against Syracuse to eight consecutive matches. The Big Red's last win against the Orange came in four sets on Oct. 24, 2006 in Newman Arena. 
  • It was also the first time the Big Red and Orange had faced off since Sept. 21, 2014 in Syracuse. The Orange also won that matchup in four sets.
     

Up Next

The Big Red has a quick turnaround, as it heads to Hamilton, N.Y. this weekend for three matches at the Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament. Cornell will play West Virginia on Friday, Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. before playing two contests on Saturday, Sept. 9 against UAlbany (11 a.m.) and host Colgate (7:30 p.m.). All three matches will be streamed on ESPN+.

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