ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell women's volleyball is back on the road this weekend for a pair of Ivy League contests, visiting Dartmouth on Friday night before taking on Harvard on Saturday, Nov. 1. Both matches are set for 6 p.m.
The Big Red (12-6, 7-1 Ivy) enter the weekend riding momentum after defeating Columbia last Saturday to maintain their spot near the top of the conference standings. Cornell has built its success this season on balance, experience, and depth across the lineup, featuring steady, reliable contributors such as senior outside hitter Meghan Gaffigan, junior middle blocker Ava Bogan, and sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Parsons.
Parsons has been a standout at the net, currently ranking 12th in the NCAA in hitting percentage at .422, while anchoring the Big Red's strong front-line defense. Senior outside hitter Eliza Konvicka, fresh off earning her third Ivy League Player of the Week honor, continues to pace the offense, and senior setter Doga Ozalp recently surpassed the 2,000-career assist milestone.
As a team, Cornell ranks among the Ivy League's statistical leaders — first in points (1,171.5) and points per set (17.5), second in hitting percentage (.255), second in total kills (897), third in kills per set (13.39), and first in total blocks (153) while ranking second in blocks per set (2.28).
The Big Red continue to showcase a complete team effort and enter the weekend hungry to add two more wins to their record.
Scouting Dartmouth
Dartmouth (5-13, 2-6 Ivy) looks to rebound after a four-set loss to Harvard last weekend. The Big Green are hitting .145 as a team while averaging 10.7 kills and 14.3 digs per set.
The offense runs through senior outside hitter Kauany Gutz, who leads the team with 174 kills (2.95 per set) and ranks among the Ivy League's top scorers. Junior rightside hitter Maddie LaFata adds balance on the left side with 141 kills (2.31 per set), while sophomore setter Sophia Gagnepain directs the offense with 351 assists (5.57 per set) and a team-best 26 aces.
Defensively, libero EllaMae Fitzgerald anchors the back row with 215 digs (3.41 per set), and middle blocker Elle McCreery provides a strong presence at the net with 27 blocks and a .203 hitting percentage. Dartmouth's play has been streaky, but the Big Green have shown grit in extended matches, including a five-set win over Penn earlier this month.
Scouting Harvard
Harvard enters the weekend 4-12 overall and 3-5 in Ivy League play, coming off a 3-1 win over Dartmouth. The Crimson are hitting .182 as a team while averaging 11.1 kills and 2.4 blocks per set, ranking among the Ivy League's better blocking units.
The Crimson's offense features a balanced attack led by first-year outside hitter Sofia Rossi with 159 kills (2.84 per set) and senior outside hitter Brynne Faltinsky, who has 148 kills (2.64 per set). Sophomore middle blocker Taylor Larkin adds efficiency and power with a .284 hitting percentage and a team-leading 73 blocks.
Setting duties are split between first-year Sophia Wei and sophomore Nicole Cornell, who have combined for 494 assists and 36 service aces. Defensively, libero Hannah Nguyen has tallied 101 digs (2.02 per set), while Wei contributes another 126. Harvard's ability to control the net with its block has kept it competitive throughout Ivy play.
The Crimson will look to use their home-court advantage and steady front-line production to slow down one of the league's hottest teams on Saturday night.
Up Next
Following this weekend's road trip, Cornell returns home to Newman Arena for another key Ivy League slate. The Big Red host Penn on Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. before welcoming Princeton on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. as the push toward the conference title race continues.
