Cornell's Taylor Dicus (middle) and teammate Rikki Mulloy (left) put the presure on Coe's Lindsey Jipp last season. Dicus is a two-sport athlete for the Rams. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

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By Chad Cooper, community contributor

MOUNT VERNON — Multi-tasking has become a necessary requirement for many people juggling work, school and daily life.

Yet one facet of multi-tasking is not the norm: There aren’t that many two-sport college athletes.

A few football or basketball players also compete in track, but it’s rare when a player competes in two team sports. It is demanding and time consuming, but Cornell’s Taylor Dicus welcomes the challenge.

Cornell's Taylor Dicus (3) celebrates with Kathleen O'Connor (11) after a point in a match against Coe on Oct. 15. (Kyle Grillot/The Gazette)

The 6-foot-2 sophomore and former Mount Vernon prep starts on the volleyball and basketball teams for the Rams and excels in both sports.

Dicus went to Cornell to play both sports.

“That was one of the reasons why I chose Cornell,” she said. “I knew I would have that opportunity, and I appreciate that opportunity every time that I go out and play.”

Dicus is a starting middle blocker for a volleyball team that is 16-10 and sitting atop the Midwest Conference standings at 8-0. The Rams have won eight straight matches heading into Friday’s match-up with Lawrence in Mount Vernon.

Dicus, one of the cornerstones for a young team, ranks seventh in Division III with 1.33 blocks per set.

When the volleyball court becomes a basketball court, Dicus transitions to a starting forward spot. As a freshman, she averaged more than eight points and eight rebounds for a Cornell team that reached its first postseason berth since 2006 and secured its first postseason win since 2000.

Dicus has a lot on her plate for a college sophomore. “It can get tiring at times,” Dicus said with a laugh.

Though her schedule can get hectic, Dicus relishes the chance to compete.

“It’s a challenge but it’s also a lot of fun and I absolutely love doing it,” she said.