This past weekend, the Red (11-6, 6-1 Ivy) faced fierce competition against the Princeton Tigers (9-5, 4-2 Ivy) and the University of Pennsylvania Quakers (9-8, 3-4 Ivy). In a weekend defined by momentum swings and emotional highs, the Red triumphed over the Tigers in a thrilling five-set battle, but fell to the Quakers in a hard-fought sweep.
First against the Tigers, the stage was set for an intense clash. Having not defeated the Tigers since 2019, the Red came into the match determined to flip the script, hot off its undefeated Ivy League run. The Red, with an excellent showing of resilience and composure, succeeded in extending its streak.
The first set reflected the Red’s dominance from recent weeks. The Red found an unrelenting rhythm early, keeping the Tigers off balance with front row dominance and undeniably superior hitting at .406 percent. That, paired with a few late service errors from the Tigers, allowed the Red to claim the set 25-21 and a 1-0 match lead.
Carrying the same energy into the second set, the Red continued its onslaught, firing on all cylinders. Although the set eventually became tied at 21-21, the Tigers could not break the Red’s cool and sharp setting. With two back-to-back kills from sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Parsons, the Red closed out the set 25-22, now cementing a commanding 2-0 lead.
But the Tigers refused to go out quietly. The Tigers roared back in the third set, erasing the momentum the Red carried from the previous sets. With an impressive 6-point streak while down 24-19, the Tigers clawed their way back into contention and, with a few unlucky errors from the Red, put them back in the match down 2-1.
The fourth set was similar to the last, with a close set ultimately ending badly for the Red. The Red, however, showed signs of composure and although being down 20-23, almost ended the set outright with a 4-point streak. However, the Tigers again rallied late, ending the set with a service ace and tying the match 2-2.
It all came down to the last set, whichever team could stay disciplined till the very end. A true nail-biter, riddled with back-and-forth extended rallies, including one that put the Red in an early 4-point deficit, came down to the wire, reaching 16-16. However, the Red confidently delivered the final blow: a thunderous kill from senior outside hitter Nicole Mallus, fed by senior setter Doga Ozalp. Perfectly exemplifying its well-rounded and calculated strategy, the Red held off a ferocious foe and stopped any momentum they had to seal the match.
“It really helps to stay composed when surrounded by such a great group of girls that you know you can trust,” said Mallus. “The support we have for one another is huge in those moments.”
Expanding upon her instrumental role in the final point to a weekend of excellence, Mallus said, “I thought Doga did an excellent job this weekend. She was running the offense really well from a technical perspective, but also instills so much faith in you as a hitter. It is a lot of fun to play with her.”
Statistically, the Red outperformed the Tigers in nearly every category (except blocks). The Red recorded 76 kills to the Tigers’ 67, along with 73 assists, 65 digs, and six aces, all the while boasting a strong .294 hitting percentage compared to the Tigers’ .249.
However, the Red’s momentum stalled the following night against Penn. Despite having beaten the Quakers in their last five confrontations, the Red fell in three straight sets, snapping its streak with the first Ivy League loss of the season.
The first set against the Quakers was the closest of the weekend, reaching an impressive final score of 27-29. Despite erasing a few early deficits, the Red eventually fell in the late battle of unrelenting back-and-forth kills, putting them behind 1-0.
The Quakers surged in the second set, stringing together long scoring runs of six and eight points that put Cornell on its heels. Despite the offensive efforts of Parsons and Mallus, the Red could not recover, falling 16-25.
The following set ended with the same score, as the Red again struggled to stop early streaks from the Quakers. Although a 4-point streak was strung together late in the set, the Red again fell.
Uncharacteristically, this match was riddled with errors from the Red, namely 23 attack errors and 9 conceded service aces. Disrupting its normally disciplined play, the Red struggled to maintain composure in this match.
However, the team has a determined outlook on the rest of the season.
“Our team is super focused on learning the technical lessons we can from that game … but [also] continuing to play fearlessly,” Mallus said.
Looking ahead, the Red continues Ivy League play, rematching Columbia (2-15, 0-7 Ivy) on Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. in Newman Arena . The game will be available to stream on ESPN+.
