Cornell’s 24th-ranked volleyball team continued its undefeated October roll with a pair of impressive wins Saturday, highlighted by a 25-23, 25-14, 25-16 sweep of host and 17th-ranked UW-Stevens Point inside Berg Gym.
The Rams defeated national-votes getter UW-Platteville in Saturday’s opener by scores of 25-16, 24-26, 25-22 and 25-19. The UW-Stevens Point match marked Cornell’s third win over a Top 25 foe this season.
Winners of seven straight, Cornell improved to 16-6 overall heading into a four-match stretch against Midwest Conference opponents.
Cornell became the first team this season to sweep UW-Stevens Point (18-6), which hit only .056 against the Rams. Cornell held a convincing 41-26 advantage in total kills and recorded eight team blocks.
The Rams had five players with at least five kills, led by Ilah Perez-Johnson with 10. Ella McLaughlin connected for nine kills and served three of the team’s eight aces. Clare Green dished 31 assists, Ella Becker had 13 digs and Carly Puffer tallied five blocks.
Perez-Johnson added 11 digs to complete her 15th double-double (kills-digs) of the season.
Against UW-Platteville (19-6), Perez-Johnson slammed 18 kills and Puffer recorded a career-high eight blocks. Green handed out 46 assists for the Rams, who outhit the Pioneers .206 to .116.
Cornell’s versatile attack received 13 kills apiece from Marti and Kiana Manson. The Rams planted 11 ace serves, four from Becker who also led the team with 16 digs. Kensie Staats and Perez-Johnson each chipped in 13 digs.
Earlier in the week, the Rams won 3-0 against Beloit.
The Rams dominated the Buccaneers collecting 43 kills as a team with senior Ilah Perez-Johnson (10) and junior Kiana Manson (11) leading both teams. Fifth-year Grace Marti had seven kills as both sophomores Ella McLaughlin and Carly Puffer finished with five.
The defense was the difference maker in the game though as the Buccaneers were held to an attack percentage of -0.051 after having 15 kills with 19 errors. This was also the first game of the season for the Rams where they never gave up an ace to the opposing team.
With their win over the Buccaneers, the Rams are tied for first place in the MWC standings with Lake Forest at 4-0. The Rams will face Lake Forest on Friday, Oct. 27 in Lake Forest, Ill. to decide who will sit up top of the MWC.