During the Mardi Gras season, it is very common to overhear crowds of people in New Orleans, saying, “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” which roughly translates to “let the good times roll.”
In Ithaca, however, students and coaches can be heard saying this iconic phrase months before the iconic holiday. Cornell volleyball (12-6, 7-1 Ivy) gave plenty of reason for celebration this weekend by adding another tick in the win column, beating Columbia University (2-16, 0-8 Ivy) in four sets.
In the first set, Columbia came out with high energy, building an early two-point lead as the Red ran through some new rotations. Despite this early run to momentarily stun the Red, Cornell would establish some stability to eventually knot the game up at 18 apiece.
With the score tied, the Red went on a 7-0 scoring run to close the set, highlighted by a pair of kills by sophomore middle blocker Mackenzie Parsons and a pair of service aces by freshman defensive specialist/libero Caroline “CJ” Holdsworth.
“For us, no matter who we’re up against, running a fast offense is always key to our success. We know that when we stay in our rhythm and keep our tempo fast, we are able to beat the other team’s block and score in their seams,” said freshman setter Mikayla Gray. “Especially in tight moments, it’s about trusting our system and keeping that pace, and that’s when we’re at our best.”
The second set featured another slow start for Cornell, with the Lions taking an assertive 10-5 lead that prompted an early timeout called by head coach Trudy Vande Berg. Coming out of the timeout, the Red found new focus, using an extended run to grab a 17-13 lead.
Despite a late rally by Columbia to cut their deficit to only 18-21, senior outside/opposite hitters Nicole Mallus and Eliza Konvicka each added a kill and played strong defense to close out the set. The Red would go on to win 25-20 and take a commanding 2-0 match lead.
In the following set, Vande Berg again tweaked the starting lineup to give the younger players some court time. Despite a strong effort, the Red was overwhelmed by the Lions’ strong service and precise hitting. Facing a 20-13 deficit, Cornell mustered an electric rally, fueled in part by senior outside/opposite hitter Meghan Gaffigan and her powerful hitting. Effective setting and ball placement also proved to be pivotal.
“For the most part, I follow the game plan we develop after watching film and discussing our opponents’ tendencies with my coaches,” said senior setter Doğa Özalp. “That preparation gives me a strong understanding of what blockers on the other side like to do, at least early in the match. As the game goes on, opponents make adjustments, and that’s when I have to adjust as well.”
Having been a member of the team for four years, Özalp has seen nearly every formation, blocking scheme and hit-receive defense.
“I’ve been playing with our senior hitters, Eliza [Konvicka], Nicole [Mallus] and Meghan [Gaffigan] for four years, and Jaida [Sione], Ava [Bogan] and Amrit [Dhaliwal] for three years,” Özalp said. “That connection really shows on the court. The underclassmen have also adapted to our tempo and consistently bring energy and a drive to get better every day.”
A 7-1 run cut the deficit to just one for the Red, but a service error gave Columbia some much-needed breathing room. Ultimately, Cornell fell by a score of 24-26 on a final kill by Columbia’s Juliana Williamson.
In the final set of the afternoon, Vande Berg opted to return to her original lineup. As a result, the Red built a quick 5-1 lead, prompting Columbia to call a timeout. This did very little to quell Cornell’s run, as Gaffigan and Konvicka once again stole the show.
Service aces and cerebral hitting seemed to be the goal of the set, as the two seniors consistently found small gaps in the Lions’ defense. Özalp and Gray finished with 24 and 18 assists, respectively, demonstrating the Red’s ability to rely on different skillsets as the match progressed.
The Red would utilize a six-point scoring run later on, highlighted by junior middle blocker Ava Bogan and Mallus, to effectively put the game out of reach, and Cornell eventually won the set 25-14.
“I want to give a shoutout to Mack[enzie Parsons] this week. She is not only a great player but also a great teammate. She’s humble, takes feedback really well, and, like I mentioned before, she’s adaptable in any situation,” Özalp said. “She shows up every day with energy and consistency, and that makes everyone around her better. I’m really grateful to play alongside her.”
Looking ahead, Cornell will be on the road this upcoming weekend, traveling to Hanover, New Hampshire, to face Dartmouth College on Friday, Oct. 31, before heading down to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to face Harvard University the following day.
“Our practices are always pretty intense. We run a lot of tough drills that really build our stamina for long rallies and full matches. We know how important it is to be able to win on Friday and still come back Saturday with that same energy and stamina,” Gray said. “The quick turnaround can be tough, but that’s why we focus on recovery, staying disciplined and focused, and keeping that competitive mindset, because we know that’s how teams win.”
Coverage is available for both games on ESPN+.
