The Columbia volleyball team lost to Yale 30-26, 30-25, 30-21 in Ivy League action in Levien Gymnasium.
Game one saw 16 ties and seven lead changes. Columbia's last lead was at 19-17 but Yale responded with a two-point lead of its own at 24-22. The Lions scratched back, but Yale went up 27-24 and went on to win the first game.
Both teams saw more offensive production in game two behind solid defense and well-run plays. Columbia trailed by as many as seven points (19-12), but Natalie Gerling led the Lions' rally with four kills to get Columbia within one, 22-23. Gerling added an ace to tie the game at 24-24, but Yale scored the next two points and went on a 6-1 run to close out the game.
Columbia continued its strong play with a balanced team effort to keep pace with the Bulldogs, and overcame an early deficit to tie the game at 9-9. The teams traded points until Yale extended its lead with three consecutive kills, including two by Allison Kaptur, to give the Bulldogs the lead for good and the three-game win.
Gerling led the Lions with 13 kills and two aces, while Cassie Ligh added nine kills and a team-high 15 digs. Amalia Viti also had a strong game with 12 kills.
Yale's Julia Mailander led all players with 14 kills, while Kaptur and Nicole Perkins added 11 kills each.
Yale is now 14-5, 8-2 Ivy League.
Columbia (3-18, 0-10 Ivy League) returns to action tomorrow when they host Brown for a 4 p.m. match.
