Cornell’s volleyball team celebrated coach Jeff Meeker’s 400th victory, and a few hours later, knocked off No. 5 nationally-ranked Northwestern in a five-set classic during a memorable Saturday inside the Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
Meeker reached his impressive milestone in the 24th-ranked Rams’ 25-22, 25-20, 21-25, 25-17 victory over Illinois College. Cornell then claimed a signature program win over 2022 NCAA Final Four participant Northwestern, outlasting the Eagles 29-27, 16-25, 15-25, 25-18 and 15-10 in a two-plus hour battle.
The Rams moved to 6-1 on the season, the lone loss coming Friday night to No. 9 UW-Whitewater.
The rally over Northwestern raised Meeker’s coaching record to 401-248 in his 22nd season on Cornell’s sidelines. It also marked the program’s 14th victory over a nationally-ranked opponent under Meeker, who is Cornell’s all-time wins leader in any sport.
The Rams trailed Northwestern 2-1 in sets and faced a 4-0 deficit in the fourth when they began their comeback. First-year Kensie Staats served four unanswered points late to help seal Set 4 and force a decisive fifth.
Set 5 was knotted at 6-6 when the Rams charged ahead with a 7-1 spurt. After the Eagles closed within 13-10, Ilah Perez-Johnson delivered a kill and then teamed with Grace Marti for the match-winning block.
Perez-Johnson totaled a match-high 21 kills with 14 digs and three aces. Sophomore Ella McLaughlin also came up big with a career-best 19 kills on .300 hitting.
Clare Green had 36 assists and 10 digs. Ella Becker posted 22 digs. Marti added seven kills and four blocks.
The nonconference contest against MWC foe Illinois College saw Perez-Johnson (10 kills, 20 digs) and Green (20 assists, 12 digs) both record double-doubles. McLaughlin started her stellar day with a match-high 15 kills against the Lady Blues (4-2).
Carly Puffer contributed 10 kills and four blocks. Becker had 18 digs.
The Rams fired nine aces against Illinois College, four from Perez-Johnson and three from Nia Howard. Howard also chipped in 19 assists and nine digs.