Cornell faces tough competition for wins

Michayla Turchen, Cornell junior, prepares to spike the ball to her New Auburn opponent Sept. 14, as the Chiefs hosted a home triangular. It was all Cornell, as the home team put away the visitors, 3-0. Photo by Ginna Young

By Ginna Young

The Cornell Chiefs Volleyball program saw multiple matches over the week, taking part in a home triangular and an away quad.

Sept. 14 vs. New Auburn conference (W 3-0)

First up for the Chiefs in their home triangular, was New Auburn, who started slow, allowing Cornell to take the first set, 25-14. It was a closer set in the second match, 25-21, as well as the third set, but Cornell came up with the win, 2520.

Sept. 14 vs. Lake Holcombe conference (W 3-0)

Next, it was time to face rival Lake Holcombe, with the first set win coming easy to the Chiefs, 25-14. Lake Holcombe rebounded for a closer set, 25-22, but the third and final set saw Cornell take the shutout, with a 25-19 victory.

Sept. 16 vs. Owen-Withee non-conference (L 1-2)

Two days later, it was off to Auburndale for a quad against non-conference opponents. The first foe was Owen-Withee, with Cornell dropping the first set, 21-25.

The Chiefs shook themselves off and earned the second set win, 25-19, but Owen-Withee wouldn’t go away and were the third set victors, 16-14.

Sept. 16 vs. Auburndale non-conference (L 0-2)

Host Auburndale was next up in the quad for the Chiefs and while the sets were close, the host school got the wins, 25-21 and 25-20.

“The Lady Chiefs stepped up their play against a tough Owen-Withee and Auburndale team,” said coach Amy Lorenzen.

Sept. 16 vs. Elcho non-conference (W 2-0)

The final match-up of the night came against Elcho, with the Chiefs back in their groove and ready to get the win. Cornell took the first set, 25-20, and the second set wasn’t even close, as the Chiefs brought in the win, 25-16.

Sophomore Makya Heatherington led the team in assists for the night, with 25, along with 15 digs. Senior Jayda Turchen was strong at the service line, with 12 aces and 16 kills, while sophomore Brooke Anderson ended with 28 digs.

Junior Michayla Turchen recorded 16 kills. Sophomore Brooke Sime, and freshmen Bralee Schroeder and Briana Glaus contributed to the night’s success with 8, 5 and 4 kills, respectively.

Senior Teaira Spaeth came away with 13 assists.

“In addition, Zoe Meyer (sophomore) and Izzy Hickethier (junior) were able to get out on the court to make it a whole team effort,” said Lorenzen. “There were a lot of long rallies that we were able to get to end in our favor.”