ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell women's volleyball hits the road for its final regular-season weekend, facing Yale on Friday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. before taking on Brown on Saturday, Nov. 15, at 6 p.m.
The Big Red (14-8, 9-3 Ivy) enter the weekend tied atop the Ivy League standings with Princeton following a split at home last weekend. Cornell defeated Penn in four sets Friday before falling to Princeton in three on Saturday.
Cornell has already clinched a berth to the Ivy League Tournament, set for Nov. 21–22. This weekend's results will determine who earns hosting rights for the postseason championship.
Cornell continues to showcase its depth, with contributions across the lineup. Senior outside hitter Eliza Konvicka, sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Parsons, and junior middle blocker Ava Bogan lead the offensive charge. Setters Doga Ozalp and Mikayla Gray direct the attack, while junior libero Sara Pomar and freshman CJ Holdworth anchor the defense. Additional offensive firepower comes from senior Meghan Gaffigan, junior Jaida Sione, and senior Nicole Mallus.
Statistically as a team, Cornell sits at the top of the Ivy for total points scored this season at 1412. The Big Red is third for hitting percentage, second in assists per set at 12.18, third in kills per set at 13.37, third in blocks per set with 2.16, and second in service aces with 1.7 average per set.
Looking at individual performances, Mackenzie Parsons continues to reign in top 20 nationally for her hitting percentage, right now at .418 average, landing her in 16th.
Scouting Yale (12-8, 8-4 Ivy, 4th in league)
Friday's matchup marks the 84th all-time meeting between Cornell and Yale, with the Bulldogs holding a 55–28 series advantage. The Big Red swept Yale in straight sets earlier this season in Ithaca.
Yale enters the weekend riding a four-match win streak, most recently sweeping Harvard and Dartmouth on the road. The Bulldogs rank among the Ivy League's top offensive teams, hitting .261 while averaging 12.6 kills and 11.9 assists per set.
Junior outside hitter Ava Poinsett leads the way with 261 kills (3.48 per set) and 31 aces, serving as one of the Ivy League's most dynamic attackers. Senior middle blocker Laurece Abraham adds 201 kills and a team-high .417 hitting percentage, anchoring the middle with consistent efficiency. Halle Sherlock and Margaret Neuman share setting duties, with Sherlock pacing the team at 382 assists (8.13 per set).
Defensively, Arya Jue leads the back row with 256 digs (3.76 per set), while Betsy Goodenow (31 total blocks) and Abraham (42) provide stability at the net. The Bulldogs are also one of the league's strongest serving teams, totaling 115 aces on the season, highlighted by Poinsett's 31.
Yale has been particularly effective in tight sets, boasting a 6–2 record in matches decided in five sets this season. Their balance across all phases makes them one of the toughest teams to slow down entering the final weekend.
Scouting Brown (13-8, 8-4 Ivy, 3rd in league)
Saturday's contest will be the 91st all-time meeting between Cornell and Brown. The Big Red lead the series, 47–33, and earned a four-set win earlier this season in Ithaca.
Brown enters the weekend sitting just one match back from first place, most recently splitting its road trip with a sweep of Dartmouth and a loss to Harvard. The Bears are hitting .226 as a team while averaging 12.9 kills, 11.7 assists, and 14.0 digs per set.
Senior outside hitter Mariia Sidorova leads Brown with 244 kills (3.25 per set) and 29 service aces, followed by junior middle blocker Sophia Wolfson, who adds 229 kills while hitting a team-best .383 and leading the front line with 109 total blocks (1.45 per set). Freshman outside hitter Ally Panzloff provides additional offense with 177 kills (2.49 per set).
Setter Julia Kakkis runs the attack with 727 assists (9.69 per set), while libero Jessie Golden anchors the defense with 354 digs (4.72 per set). At the service line, the Bears have tallied 119 aces on the season, paced by Wolfson (25) and Hannah Flannery (18).
Brown ranks among the Ivy League's best blocking teams, averaging 2.29 blocks per set and out-blocking its opponents 172.0 to 139.5 on the season.
Up Next
Cornell will compete in the Ivy League Tournament from Friday, Nov. 21, through Saturday, Nov. 22. The host site will be determined following this weekend's results.
