When former coach Deitre Collins-Parker left for San Diego State after the 2008 season and new head coach Sarah Bernson took over, it could have been expected that the Cornell volleyball program would experience its fair share of ups and downs in 2009.

Such has been the case for the Red (4-9, 1-1 Ivy) throughout the first half of this season, as the team has needed to adjust to a new coach and recruiting class while playing a difficult schedule.

Nevertheless, the Red is currently riding a two-match winning streak and appears ready to translate its newfound success into an Ivy League title run.

The Red opened the season at the George Mason Invitational in Fairfax, Va., at the beginning of September. It wasn’t the start to the season that the team had hoped for, though, as Cornell lost in straight sets to Morehead State and Kent State and fell to host George Mason, 3-1.

The Red turned things around at the Binghamton Invitational the following week, however, chalking up its first and second victories of the season against Towson and Fairleigh Dickinson before falling in its final match to Binghamton.

Cornell was held winless in its next five games, including three straight losses at home during the Cornell Invitational and a loss in its Ivy League opener at Columbia, 3-0. The loss to Columbia snapped a 15-game Cornell winning streak against the Lions.

The Red has since bounced back, however, winning its two most recent matches. Cornell is coming off its first Ivy League win of the season, beating the same Columbia that beat them a week ago, 3-0, on Saturday in Ithaca.

Much of the inconsistent start to the season for the Red may be attributed to the team’s youth, both in terms of players and coaching personnel.

After spending five seasons as an assistant coach for the Red, Sarah Bernson is currently in her first season as the Wendy Schaenen ’79 Head Coach Of Volleyball.

First seasons can always be tough, but senior and team co-captain Megan Mushovic believes that if anyone was suited to take over after coach Collins-Parker, it was Bernson.

“It’s definitely easier because [Bernson] knows us,” Mushovic said. “Its been easier than having someone new coming in and having to learn… how you play [and] how you react to different kinds of feedback.”

Along with Bernson came a brand new recruiting class of seven freshmen. Height was the emphasis of the class, with five of the seven newcomers measuring in at 5-11 or taller. The strong class provides the Red with a lot of potential moving forward.

Deveney Pula, from Long Beach, Ca., is one freshman that has already begun playing to her potential. Pula has played in 39 of the Red’s 45 games thus far and is currently leading the team with 2.72 kills per game.

“They’ve definitely been working hard,” Mushovic said of all the freshmen on the team. “I think the freshmen are always really important. They bring something new and it’s always good to learn from different players.”

Despite all the new faces on the Cornell roster, the goal for Mushovic and the rest of the Red has not changed: to win an Ivy League title.

“I think…if we keep progressing like we did from last weekend to this weekend, [a title] is definitely possible,” Mushovic said. “We just need to keep adjusting and staying motivated.”

The Red will have the opportunity to work towards that goal this coming weekend, when Cornell plays host to Harvard on Friday evening at 7 p.m. and Dartmouth the following day at 4 p.m. The two matches mark the beginning of a four-game home stand for the Red, all against Ivy League foes.