eeITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell women's volleyball punched its ticket to the Ivy League Tournament on Friday night, defeating Penn in four sets (25–20, 25–22, 23–25, 25–23) inside Newman Arena. With the victory, the Big Red improved to 14–7 overall and 9–2 in Ivy League play, securing their postseason berth with one regular-season matches remaining.
Set 1: Hot Start Powers Big Red to Start
Cornell came out firing, hitting .324 in the opening frame behind a balanced and aggressive attack. A 9–1 surge midway through gave the Big Red control, with Nicole Mallus and Mackenzie Parsons providing key kills. Eliza Konvicka slammed home the final point for a 25–20 win.
Set 2: Cornell Wins a Gritty Second
The second set turned into a back-and-forth battle featuring 13 ties and four lead changes. Cornell's poise down the stretch proved decisive as Meghan Gaffigan and Ava Bogan combined for a crucial block to break a 22–22 deadlock. The Big Red closed out the set, 25–22, to take a commanding 2–0 lead.
Set 3: Penn Fights Back
The Quakers refused to go quietly, taking advantage of Cornell miscues and timely kills to edge out a 25–23 win. Despite a late push from Konvicka and Parsons, Penn's defense held firm to extend the match to a fourth set.
Set 4: Big Red Finishes Strong
Cornell regrouped and came out determined to finish. Mallus and Konvicka led the offensive charge as the Big Red built an early cushion, while Bogan and Gaffigan controlled the net. A Penn service error sealed the 25–23 set and the match, clinching Cornell's spot in the Ivy League Tournament for the second straight season.
Stat Leaders
Konvicka tallied a match-high 14 kills along with four blocks and two aces. Nicole Mallus led the contributed 10 kills on an impressive .556 hitting percentage. Mackenzie Parsons, Jaida Sione, and Meghan Gaffigan each added 10 kills, rounding out a balanced offensive effort.
Setters Doga Ozalp and Mikayla Gray dished out 23 and 21 assists, respectively, and libero Sara Pomar anchored the defense with 16 digs. Bogan paced the blocking unit with eight total. Cornell finished the night hitting .251 as a team with eight blocks and six service aces.
Up Next: Senior Night Showdown
Cornell is back in action Saturday, Nov. 8, at 6 p.m., hosting Ivy League No. 2 Princeton at Newman Arena. The Big Red will also honor its seniors after the match.
