West Virginia University
3-5,0-0Big 12
Cornell
1-4,0-0Ivy League
Sunahara Secures 100th West Virginia Win Over Cornell
September 08, 2023 05:53 PM | Volleyball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - The West Virginia University volleyball team (3-5) took a 3-1 victory over Cornell (1-4) on Friday night at the Colgate Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament in Hamilton, New York.
The win marked WVU coach Reed Sunahara's 100th victory at West Virginia.
"We'll take the win today," said Sunahara. "We're going to continue to improve, and use this victory as Momentum for when we head into Big 12 play."
The Mountaineers took the match in four sets, with scores of 25-14, 25-23, and 25-19. Cornell grabbed the third set with a score of 25-23.
West Virginia started off the match hot, putting down 11 kills compared to Cornell's three. Cornell tied the set up at the half-way point 14-14, before the Mountaineers went on an eight-point scoring run, cementing the set win for the squad, 25-15.
Set two was a back-and-forth brawl for both teams, Cornell went on to lead by as many as four points before West Virginia clamped down with a kill from sophomore middle blocker Tierney Jackson, securing set two, 25-23, for the Mountaineers.
Cornell held on to the lead for a majority of the third, capitalizing on service aces and miscues from the Mountaineers to give them the 25-23 third-set win.
West Virginia utilized its strong offense in the fourth and final set, collecting 14 kills and using two four-point scoring runs to remain victorious, 25-19 over the Big Red.
Junior outside hitter Hailey Green once again led the team in kills, collecting 17 on the night. Sophomore middle blocker Melanie McGann was second on the team, adding 11 kills and hitting .450.
Jackson had an outstanding match, tallying 10 kills, 25 attacks, eight block assists and three digs.
Fifth year libero Camilla Covas and freshman defensive specialist Danilyn Neil had 12 digs apiece.
Redshirt senior setter Lauren DeLo added 40 assists and seven digs for the Mountaineers.
West Virginia rounds out the Colgate Ellis Rowland Memorial Tournament on Saturday, Sept. 9 against Albany. First serve is slated for 4:30 p.m. ET, and the match will be held at Cotterell Court.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVU volleyball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
