Volleyball continued its success in the Ivy league with a decisive victory 3-1 over Penn on Friday, Nov. 7, punching its ticket to the Ivy League Tournament. After falling to the Quakers in their previous matchup, the Red’s balanced defense and team-wide offensive effort fueled a return to Cornell’s disciplined and dominant form.
On offense, senior outside hitter Eliza Konvicka led the charge with an impressive 14 kills and 2 aces. Supporting the overwhelming pressure, senior outside hitter Nicole Mallus, who also maintained a .556 hitting percentage, delivered 10 more kills. Three additional players notched double-digit kills, as the Red totalled 62 kills to the Quakers’ 49.
In the first set, the Red (14-7, 9-2 Ivy) came out hot, amassing a lead as high as nine points in the set. Fueled by a 9-1 surge midway through the frame, the Red stunned the Quakers (10-11, 4-7) early on and underscored Cornell’s offensive control. The Red held an impressive 0.324 hitting percentage, dominating the Quakers’ 0.161. Although the Quakers attempted to mount a comeback, a confident kill from Konvicka closed the set out 25-20, granting the Red a 1-0 set lead.
The Red continued strong in the second set, although this set was generally a tighter contest. In a set riddled with 13 ties, Cornell remained composed and leaned on crucial blocks to prop itself up for victory. Starting from 19-19, the Red found streaks to break away and take the set 25-22, extending its lead to 2-0.
The pushback from the Quakers culminated in the third set, where they won their sole set of the match. Despite a commanding 7-0 start from the Red, the Quakers refused to go quietly and, by capitalizing on the Red’s attack errors, were able to keep the match close. Despite remaining no more than a few points behind, the Red fell after a three-point streak concluded the set 25-23, putting the Quakers on the board at 2-1.
Refocused, the Red brought back the same tenacity it started with. Another dominant start, this time being 6-0, set the tone for the set. Though Penn fought to stay within control, Cornell, thanks again to crucial defensive blocks and steady offensive rhythm, sealed the set 25-23. Konvicka and Mallus, reaffirming their offensive authority, totaled 10 kills in the final set alone.
With this victory, the Red is propelled to a playoff run for the second consecutive season. This win, emblematic of their season’s collaborative and well-rounded gameplay, saw a typical statistical dominance from the Red. Beyond the dominance in kills, the Red posted fewer errors (20-21), totalled 10 more assists and recorded an impressive 0.251 hitting percentage to the Quakers’ 0.178.
With playoff contention secured early, the Red sends a clear message to the rest of the Ivy League heading into November.
