Cornell faces grudge match in first round

By Mike Condon, Correspondent

MOUNT VERNON -- Avenging losses helped get the Cornell volleyball team to the NCAA Division III national tournament.

Avenging another would push the Rams into the second round.

Coach Jeff Meeker's team (28-5) earned the school's first berth ever in the 64-team national field by winning it first Iowa Conference Tournament title. The Rams face a rematch against Elmhurst College (30-5) on Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Washington University in St. Louis.

Elmhurst handed the Rams their last defeat, winning in four games on Oct. 7 at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville Tournament. That loss was the third in a four-match stretch for Cornell. Since then, the Rams have reeled off 14 straight victories.

"We're playing well right now," Meeker said. "This team was a work in progress all season. We are young overall, with just three seniors.

"I thought we would continue to get better and we did."

Meeker said the turning point for the Rams actually came in a loss to Simpson, which was part of the stretch of midseason losses.

"We lost a close five-set match to Simpson, but after that I think we really started playing like we needed to play," Meeker said. "After that, we lost to Elmhurst, but I really liked what I was starting to see."

The loss to Simpson, combined with an early-season to eventual regular-season champion Coe, left Cornell as the third seed for the conference tournament. The Rams got revenge against Coe with a non-league win just before the end of the regular season. Cornell avenged another loss with a win over Wartburg in the IIAC tourney semifinals before sweeping Central in the final to earn the NCAA berth.

Meeker may have a young team, but it is one loaded with talent. Sophomore hitter Kathleen O'Connor was named the IIAC's Most Valuable Player while 6-foot-2 freshman Taylor Dicus, a Mount Vernon High School graduate, was named the league's top freshman.

"Katie (O'Connor) is just a complete player," he said. "She does everything so well.

"Taylor is such a presence at the net," Meeker added. "She is one of the taller and better blockers around. I expect she will make her mark at the national tournament."

The leadership has come from a gritty trio of seniors. Samantha Pedersen and Kirtley Hitt have been steady hitters, supporting O'Connor and Dicus. Defensive specialist Kayla Grimes is the third senior. She combines with another Mount Vernon freshman, Kylea Weber, to give the Rams strong play in the back row.

Two other freshman play key roles for Cornell. Sabrina Hargis has been the Rams' primary setter while Cedar Rapids Kennedy graduate Katie Sickelka backs Dicus in the middle position.

Meeker said the rematch with Elmhurst will be good for his team.

"It's good for us, especially being a younger team," he said. "We aren't going in there wondering about the great unknown."

Elmhurst is ranked 17th nationally and had a 17-match winning streak snapped in its College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin tourney final, losing in five sets to No. 11 Carthage. The winner of Friday's Cornell-Elmhurst will face the winner of Carthage-Edgewood match in a Saturday regional semifinal. The regional final is scheduled for Sunday at 4 p.m. with the winner advancing to the national tournament.

"We just need to keep doing what we have been doing," Meeker said. "If we do that, I think we are going to be in good shape."