This weekend the Penn volleyball team proved that hard work and concentration can create change in a single season. Two weeks ago, the Quakers fell to Cornell, the top team in the Ivy League, 3-1.
But on Friday, the Red and Blue executed their game plan and pulled an upset, beating the Big Red in three games.
"We followed the game plan exactly," Penn coach Kerry Carr said. "We executed smart tips and roll shots into areas where their defense wasn't."
Penn (14-9, 6-5 Ivy) captured the first game, 30-28. In the second game, Cornell (17-7, 9-3) developed a six-point lead over the Quakers.
"After we were down, I gave [junior] Cara Thomason a rest," Carr said. "Cara returned on fire and Cornell couldn't stop us."
Thomason, an outside hitter, recorded 10 kills and 22 digs for the Red and Blue.
"We did a great job pushing hard and not letting up in the final five points of each game," senior middle blocker Natalie Francis said. "The fact that we were not only able to finish out a very close game but also able to come back from being behind in the last few points was a huge accomplishment and confidence booster for us."
Carr also believes that the team's solid defense was essential to the victory.
"We played out-of-our-mind defense and Cornell got frustrated," Carr said.
Sophomore Meredith Damore tallied 14 digs while freshman Linda Zhang added 35 assists, four digs and eight kills. Sophomore Liz Hurst and freshman Anna Shlimak contributed 11 and nine digs, respectively. Shlimak also recorded six kills.
Overall, Penn outblocked Cornell, normally a strong blocking team, 5-4.
"The team came out really strong and never let up," senior Lynzy Caton said. "We kept our errors to a minimum and stayed steady."
The San Jose, Calif., native provided the team with nine kills.
On Saturday afternoon, the Quakers ended their home season in the Palestra with another win over Columbia.
The Quakers easily defeated the Lions (3-21, 1-11) in three games, 30-17, 30-22 and 30-24.
Again, Thomason led the team with 17 kills and 11 defensive digs. Caton provided six kills, while Zhang and classmate Laura Black each tallied five.
Defensively, Damore and Black recorded 14 and 13 kills, respectively.
The matchup marked the final home games for Francis and Caton, both four-year team members.
"The fact that we won both matches, each in three games, was an especially great way to remember the excitement and emotion of our team in the historic Palestra," Francis said.
"I have to say that this weekend was just one of many high notes in my career at Penn," Caton said. "We have had some great wins over the last four years, and the fact that I get to finish with another is a great feeling."
Carr recognizes the two seniors' importance to the team this season.
"Natalie is the heart and soul of the team," Carr said. "As a captain and leader, she drives the team to play at its highest level.
"Lynzy leads with action. She is a steady presence on the court. Although she is a solid player, she always looks for ways to improve her game, such as blocking."
Next weekend, the Quakers travel to Dartmouth and Harvard, teams that presented tough five-game matches for Penn earlier this season.
"We've changed so much," Carr said. "We've worked on changing block and hitting strategy."
If Penn follows its game plan and continues to improve, it will be a whole new game this weekend in Boston and Hanover, N.H.
