Iowa Conference Volleyball Champs!

Cornell College's volleyball team went out in style Saturday night by claiming the IIAC Tournament title with a 25-18, 25-14, 25-21 championship match sweep over fifth-seeded Central before a packed gym at the Small Multi-Sport Center.

"I am incredibly proud of this team," Cornell head coach Jeff Meeker said. "We were awfully good tonight on the biggest stage. The environment in our gym was electric. Our fans really helped us, and made the win even more special."

Cornell's last league match as a member of the IIAC was a historical one for Meeker's program, which celebrated its first conference championship in its 15th season. Fittingly it was sophomore Kathleen O'Connor, who a day earlier was named the IIAC's Most Valuable Player, smashing the match-winning kill through the Dutch defense. With their 14th consecutive win, the third-seeded Rams (28-5) earned the IIAC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Championships Nov. 11-13. It is the program's first-ever trip to the national tournament. Regional sites and pairings will be announced Monday.

"We have been working towards this goal for a while," Meeker said. "To have finally won the championship and qualify for nationals is so special. It is always a goal in athletics to improve throughout the course of the season. This team has done that and more. Fourteen wins in a row gives us a great deal of confidence for next weekend."

The Rams never trailed by more than three points the entire night. After posting convincing wins in Set 1 and 2, Cornell went back and forth with the Dutch (24-11) in a third set that featured 13 ties. With the score at 19-19, senior Kayla Gaines served three straight points to give the Rams a 22-19 lead.

Central cut the margin to 22-21, but would get no closer. A kill by freshman Katie Sickelka and a Central attack error set up match point for Cornell. O'Connor finished it off with her match-high 15th kill, and Sabrina Hargis' 35th assist of the night.

Taylor Dicus, the IIAC Freshman of the Year, and Sickelka provided eight kills apiece. Kirtley Hitt and Samantha Pedersen each had six kills for the Rams, who posted a .275 attack percentage.

Freshman libero Kylea Weber posted a match-high 14 digs, while Kelsey Gaillot added 13. Dicus led all players with six total blocks. Hitt chipped in four blocks.

Saturday marked Cornell's first conference volleyball championship since claiming the 1988 crown as a member of the Midwest Conference, a league the Rams will rejoin next season.

Meeker's squad became the third Cornell team of any sport to win an IIAC championship. Women's tennis won the 2001 title, and men's basketball was crowned IIAC Tournament champions in 2009.