Volleyball Battles in Losses to American and Navy

Friday, September 14

Washington, D.C.

7 p.m.

Columbia

Navy

Volleyball Battles in Losses to American and Navy

9/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball

By: Columbia University Athletics

For three games, Columbia gave six-time Patriot League champion American University a battle. The Lions lost 30-27, 30-25, 30-21 and fell to 0-4 on the season, while the Eagles improved to 5-6. Later on in the day, the Lions lost to Navy 30-19, 30-25, 30-28.

“Every time we step on the court, we are developing. Regardless of the increment, it is solid and tangible improvement,” said acting head coach Brie Katz.

In the first match of the day, American built up their biggest lead of game one when Ivana Cebakova put down a kill on the right side of the court to give the Eagles an 18-12 advantage. With AU's Tara Stradling serving, Amalia Viti picked up a kill and the side out that initiated a five-point run by Columbia.

Natalie Gerling served two aces and American had an attacking error, which cut the lead to 18-16 and forced the Eagles to take a timeout. The teams traded points until American put consecutive points together and took a lead.

Columbia trailed 24-20 when Gerling ripped an attack down the line for the point and side out. Setter Shannon Hunzicker served three points with one ace and kills by Viti and first-year Lauren Russell to cut the lead to one, 24-23, before American picked up the side out.

The Lions cut the lead to 28-27, but American picked up the final two points on a block and a kill.

Columbia jumped out to a 3-0 lead in game two before American got a kill from Christina Nash initiating a nine-point run for the Eagles. Columbia first-year Colleen McNutt halted the scoring when she dumped a kill just past the diving libero for the side out.

The Lions were able to piece together consecutive points and mini-runs to stay in the game. The Eagles looked to have a commanding lead, up 22-14, but Columbia had another run left as Hunzicker dumped a dig by Ellie Thomas for a kill that initiated a five-point swing, that cut the lead to three, 22-19.

American got the stops they needed to halt the Lions' rally and take game two, 30-25.

The Eagles never trailed in game three but Columbia walked away from the match with some momentum.

Gerling led all Lions with 15 kills, while Hunzicker finished with three kills and 34 assists. Thomas, the libero, had three assists and 21 digs in the loss.

“Our two captains on the floor, Natalie (Gerling) and Shannon (Hunzicker) did everything we asked them to do. Shannon averaged more than 11 assists per game and Natalie hit .316,” Katz noted. “In the back, Ellie (Thomas) continues to be solid leading our defense with match-high digs. Up front, Lauren (Russell) had four kills and no errors and an impressive solo block in just her fourth collegiate game. We need to work on making the proper adjustments faster towards the end of a match, but overall I have to be pleased with the direction we're going.”

The Lions lost the first game to Navy 30-19, and Columbia trailed for most of game two, before putting together a nice rally to close out the game in the 30-25 loss.

It was game three where the Lions began to assert themselves, taking a 23-17 lead and battling for every point. Navy got two aces from Lizzie Grider and a couple of Columbia errors, gave Navy the lead 26-24. The Lions weren't done yet, taking a 27-26 lead behind a kill from Gerling and a couple hitting errors by the Midshipmen. Navy got a kill from Abbie Merkl for the side out and closed out the game on a hitting error and an ace.

Gerling had 11 kills, a match-high, while Thomas has 11 digs, also a match-high.

"We are putting ourselves in position to win games," said Katz. "I'm confident this hard work in a tough schedule is going to help us during the Ivy League season."

Columbia faces Army tomorrow at 10 a.m. and awaits the final standings for a 7 p.m. opponent.