Cornell volleyball remained perfect in Ivy League play Friday night, overcoming a five-point deficit in the second set before sweeping Penn 3-0 at The Palestra.
The Big Red improved to 6-5 overall and 2-0 in conference play after winning the three sets 25-23, 31-29 and 25-23.
Cornell faced its biggest challenge in the second set after Penn built an 18-13 advantage. The Big Red responded with five consecutive points to even the score at 18-18, then survived a back-and-forth battle that featured multiple lead changes before closing out the set 31-29.
Jaida Sione led Cornell with 12 kills and four blocks for 14.5 points, while Mackenzie Parsons added 11 kills while hitting .276 and finished with three blocks. Kiran Rio contributed nine kills and 11 digs.
Ava Bogan added seven kills while leading the team with six blocks. Mary Wolcott recorded 27 assists and 11 digs while directing the Cornell offense, and Haley Clark contributed two service aces and six digs.
Cornell finished with 45 kills, 10 blocks, four service aces and 71 digs while holding Penn to a .082 hitting percentage. The Big Red hit .124 as a team.
Cornell controlled the opening set after overcoming an early deficit, then carried that momentum into the third. Penn rallied late in the final set to tie the score at 22-22, but Sione’s kill and a Penn attack error put Cornell at match point before Bogan finished the sweep with the final kill.
The Big Red will continue Ivy League play Saturday, October 3, when it travels to Princeton. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.