Volleyball Opens Conference Play Saturday At Cornell
9/23/2015 5:29:00 PM | Volleyball
Columbia Opens Conference Play Saturday At Cornell
ITHACA, N.Y. – The Columbia volleyball team (2-7, 0-0 Ivy) kicks off Ivy League action this weekend as it heads to Ithaca, New York, to take on Cornell (4-6, 0-0 Ivy) on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 2 p.m.
SETTING IT UP
- The Lions are looking to snap a four-game losing streak while is fighting to break a two-game losing skid of its own this weekend.
- Columbia has opened conference play against Cornell every year dating back to the 2000 season and last year defeated the Big Red, 3-1, in the league opener.
- In last season's conference opener, the Lions were able to rally for a 3-1 victory over the Big Red, posting up a total of 14 blocks in the match.
- Katarina Jovicic dominated in that match for the Lions, posting up 10 kills (.450 attacking percentage), six blocks, three digs and both an ace and an assist for a team-leading 17 points.
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
- Saturday night's entire match will be streamed live (subscription required) on the Ivy League Digital Network (ILDN) by visiting www.ildn.tv/columbia.
- Links to live stats for all the matches can also be found on the volleyball schedule at GoColumbiaLions.com and fans can always keep up to date with Columbia volleyball on Twitter @CUVB.
SCOUTING REPORT: CORNELL BIG RED
- Cornell heads into Ivy League play with a 4-6 record after going 1-2 in its home tournament last weekend.
- The Big Red is led by Macey Wilson who ranks 100th in the nation with a .361 hitting percentage this year.
- Trudy Vande Berg is in her first season as The Wendy Schaenen '79 Head Coach of Volleyball at Cornell and led the Big Red to its first 2-0 start on the season since 2007.
A WALL AT THE NET
- This year, Columbia ranks second in the conference and 93rd in the nation with an average of 2.28 blocks per set.
- In their home opener at the Columbia Invitational, the Lions were able to post up 32 total blocks in three matches for an average of 2.9 blocks per set.
- Through six matches this season, the Lions have already recorded 53.0 blocks for an average of 2.41 per set to rank second in the conference and 65th in the nation.
- The Lions were also dominant at the net in 2014, posting up a blocking average of 2.1 blocks per set for a total 182.5 blocks.
- Leading the way was the duo of Katarina Jovicic and Kesi Neblett who posted up 91 and 74 blocks, respectively.
- Jovicic also led the entire Ivy League in 2014, averaging 1.14 blocks per set to put her 109th overall in the nation.
CHASING DOWN PROGRAM HISTORY
- With an impressive 797 assists (9.96 per set) last year that was fifth in the single-season record books, junior Jennifer Petrovich now has 1,509 total assists in her career, putting her in fifth all-time behind Shannon Hunzicker (1,616).
- Senior Bailey Springer is nearing the top five in career kills with 739 while Katarina Jovicic (204) and Kesi Neblett (182) are just outside the top five in career blocks.
COMING UP NEXT
- The Lions will continue their journey through the Ivy League on a five-game road trip as they head next to New Haven, Connecticut, to take on Yale on Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. before continuing North to face Brown on Oct. 3 at 5 p.m.
Players Mentioned
MH
/ Volleyball
MH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballHighlights: VB | Columbia vs. Penn
Saturday, November 08
Highlights: VB | Columbia vs. Yale (10.10.25)
Friday, October 10
Highlights: VB | Columbia vs. Belmont and Siena
Saturday, September 13
Highlights: VB | Columbia vs. Fordham 9-6-26
Saturday, September 06
