Cornell Volleyball Secures Victory Against Grinnell in Four Sets

Mount Vernon, IA — In an electrifying matchup on Saturday at the Small Athletic and Wellness Center, the Cornell College Rams outlasted Grinnell in four sets to claim a 3-1 victory in NCAA women’s volleyball action. Cornell’s balanced offense and sharp defense propelled them to win the decisive sets, finishing with scores of 25-16, 22-25, 25-16, and 25-16.

Junior Ilah Perez-Johnson led the Rams’ offense with 22 kills and a .271 hitting percentage, while Clare Green orchestrated the attack with 50 assists. Ally Olmstead and Kiana Manson combined for 12 blocks, anchoring a defense that stifled Grinnell’s hitters.

Cornell set the tone early, dominating the first set with a .375 hitting percentage while holding Grinnell to a negative .028. Despite a Grinnell rally in the second set led by Jenna Keller’s 10 kills and .088 hitting efficiency, the Rams regrouped in the third and fourth sets to close out the match decisively.

“Our focus was on playing aggressively and staying composed,” said head coach Jeff Meeker. “We executed well at the net and found our rhythm offensively, especially in the crucial moments.”

Grinnell struggled to find consistency, committing 49 attack errors compared to Cornell’s 33. The Pioneers showed resilience in the second set, fueled by Keller and Emily Brewer, but their efforts fell short as the Rams tightened their defensive grip.

With the victory, Cornell improves to 21-10 overall and 7-1 in conference play, while Grinnell ends their season at 19-11.