WAVERLY, Iowa-- The Wartburg volleyball team (9-8 overall) defeated nonconference opponent, Cornell (7-7) 3-1 Wednesday. The Knights won the first two sets, 26-24, 25-17, before the Rams claimed the third frame 27-25. The Orange and Black won the fourth set 25-15 to seal the win.



Senior Lizzy Blough (Dike) led all hitters with 19 kills, just one shy of her career mark. Sophomore Kylie Bildstein (Dyersville) and freshman Jayme Willemssen (Waverly) joined her in double digits with 11 kills each.

Senior Mallary Erbes (Urbandale) had 39 assists as she ran the offense. She added 17 digs and a career-high five service aces. Her previous high was four, which interestingly, she previously accomplished against the Rams on Sept. 21 at the Cornell Classic.

Sophomore Katie Foster (Charles City) had 26 digs and added six assists.

As a team, Wartburg finished the night with 14 aces, just two shy of the single-game school record which was set in 2005. The Knights held the team advantages in kills, hitting percentage, assists, service aces, and blocks.

The Rams compiled a late rally in the first set, as they came back to knot it at 24 all. The Orange and Black used a kill by Foster and Willemssen to take that frame.

Wartburg used a five-point run to take the lead at 15-9 in the second set to put that one out of reach. Cornell compiled seven-point run to make it 24-22 in its favor in the third set. The Knights tied it at 25 all, but two kills from the Rams forced a fourth set.

The Orange and Black used a five-point run to take the 16-9 lead in the final set, and never relinquished that lead.

Wartburg concludes its two-game homestand Saturday when it hosts Central at 3 p.m.