MOUNT VERNON – In a thrilling five set match Friday night, Rams sophomore
Grace Tverberg served up the ace to clinch the fifth set (15-6) and the victory for Cornell inside Small Athletic and Wellness Center.
The Rams (8-7 overall, 3-0 MWC) extended their winning streak to six, while snapping Wartburg's (14-6 overall, 1-0 ARC) 11 match win streak.
Cornell won the first two sets by identical (25-13) scores. In a close first set
Hannah Cantwell took over the service with a score of 15-13, Cantwell preceded to serve the final 10 points. Her run included three of her team high four aces.
In the second set Rams jumped to a 5-0 lead behind the serving of Tverberg and was finished off with Cantwell's fourth serves ace.
The Knights took the next two sets (30-28 and 25-23) as both teams fought for every point as the sets went back and forth.
The Rams finished with a 59-50 advantage in kills, with
Ashlin Nottestad leading the attack with 17 kills.
Ally Olmstead was close behind, finishing with 14.
Helen Simpson added eight,
Mia Tubbs and
Selia Stein each slammed down six.
Senior
Nia Howard served up three aces to push her career total to 196, moving into solo third in the Cornell records books. She trails IIah Perez-Johnson (224) and Hannah Boehmer (221). Howard also led the Rams with 22 assists. Tverberg added 18.
Cornell picked up 86 digs on the night, with
Kensie Staats digging 31 of them. Cantwell and Nottestad had 15 each.
Coming up – Cornell travels to Indianola on Monday to face Simpson (10-6 overall). Game time is 7:00 p.m.
