Volleyball News Releases

Rams swept Loras in earlier matchup on Oct. 27

MOUNT VERNON - Following Tuesday night's four-set loss to Wartburg, Cornell College's volleyball team received the No. 4 seed in this weekend's Iowa Conference Tournament. Simpson hosts the six-team field Friday and Saturday at Cowles Fieldhouse in Indianola.

The Rams (23-8, 5-3 IIAC) will face No. 5 seed Loras (12-20, 5-3) in a first-round match at 4:30 p.m. Friday. The winner advances to play top seed Simpson in a semifinal contest at 7 p.m. Friday. The championship is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday.

In Friday's other first-round match, No. 3 seed Wartburg (16-16, 6-2) plays No. 6 seed Central (22-11, 4-4). No. 2 seed Luther (25-10, 6-2) awaits that winner in a semifinal Friday night.

Cornell and Loras meet for the second time in less than two weeks. The Rams scored a 25-23, 25-21, 25-23 sweep over the Duhawks Oct. 27 in Mount Vernon. Cornell was swept by Simpson 25-21, 25-11, 25-17 on Sept. 9 in Indianola.

Postseason history - Cornell makes its third consecutive trip and 11th overall appearance in the IIAC Tournament. The Rams are 7-19 all-time in postseason matches since 1997.

The Rams have bowed out in the first round each of the last three years, including a 3-1 loss to Central in 2008. Cornell posted a school-best runner-up finish in 2004 as the No. 3 seed. The Rams reached the semifinals in 2003.  

Cornell and Loras have met only one previous time in the IIAC Tournament. The Rams prevailed 3-1 in a quarterfinal match in 2004.   

Home finale - The Rams dropped their regular-season finale to Wartburg - 25-21, 20-25, 25-22 and 25-16 - on Senior Night in Mount Vernon. Cornell finished in a tie with Loras for fourth place in the final IIAC regular-season standings.

Cornell had three players reach double figures in kills against the Knights, including a match-high 14 from senior Kristin Paczosa (Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove). Morgan May (Dubuque/Wahlert) hit .357 with 11 kills and Laura Dudgeon (Bettendorf/Bettendorf chipped in 10 kills. Caiti Hladky (Fort Lupton, Colo./Valley) scooped 21 digs and Hannah Boehmer (Riverside/Mid-Prairie) dished out 26 assists.  

Iowa Conference Volleyball Tournament
Friday-Saturday, Nov. 6-7
Simpson College
Cowles Fieldhouse, Indianola

Friday, Nov. 6
First round
4:30 p.m. - No. 3 Wartburg (16-16) vs. No. 6 Central (22-11)
4:30 p.m. - No. 4 Cornell (23-8) vs. Loras (12-20) 

Semifinals
7 p.m. - No. 1 Simpson (19-13) vs. Cornell-Loras winner
7 p.m. - No. 2 Luther (25-10) vs. Wartburg-Central winner 

Saturday, Nov. 7
Championship
2 p.m. - Semifinal winners