Columbia
Brown
Wes Sets Program Record in Sweep of Brown
10/28/2016 10:20:00 PM | Volleyball
Box Score| Set Scores | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Columbia | 25 | 26 | 25 |
| Brown | 19 | 24 | 19 |
| Stat Comparison | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Columbia | Brown |
| Attack Pct. | .205 | .108 |
| Kills/Errors | 42/17 | 32/19 |
| Aces/Errors | 5/6 | 4/9 |
| Digs | 62 | 56 |
| Blocks | 11 | 6 |
| Individual Leaders | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Columbia | Brown |
| Kills | Chichi Ikwuazom (11) | Makena Ehlert (8) |
| Assists | Grace Campbell (34) | Elisa Merten (15) |
| Digs | Cassie Wes (33) | Emma Thygesen (11) |
| Blocks | Chichi Ikwuazom (11) | Jacqueline Jacobs (5) |
PROVIDENCE, R.I.. — Senior libero Cassie Wes recorded the most digs in a three-set match in Columbia volleyball history Friday night, going for 33 to lead the defensive effort in a sweep of Brown (25-18, 26-24, 25-19) at the Pizzitola Center.
Wes's 33 digs marked the second time this season the Atherton, Calif., native went for more than 30. It was six digs shy of the school record for a single match, accomplished in five sets by Charlee Dyroff in September of 2011 against Boston College.
The incredible effort on the ground helped Columbia (11-8, 6-3 Ivy) hold Brown (4-15, 2-7 Ivy) to a .108 hitting percentage and only 32 kills on the evening. Meanwhile, the Lions posted 42 kills and nearly doubled up the Bears in hitting at .205, earning a season sweep of Brown for the first time since 2012.
Adding to the performance by Wes was the play of first-year Chichi Ikwuazom. The reigning Ivy League Rookie of the Week led all players in both kills and blocks, hitting .409 on her way to 11 kills and seven blocks. She has led Columbia in both categories each of the last four matches. Columbia also out-blocked Brown 11-6, held a 5-4 edge in aces and finished with a 62-56 advantage in digs.
Junior Anja Malesevic reached double figures in the kill column with 10, joining Ikwuazom as the only two players in the match to do so. Malesevic and senior Kesi Neblett also contributed on the block with four apiece.
The Lions trailed 10-6 in the opening set before an 11-3 burst propelled them in front. Back-to-back kills by Neblett got the run going and Columbia scored six consecutive points to grab a 17-13 lead, which proved to be enough to take the first.
Again, Brown took the early lead in the second and, again, Columbia came up with the response it needed. With the Bears on top 11-6, Columbia head coach Brie Katz called timeout and her team responded with four consecutive points. First-year setter Grace Campbell came up with one of Columbia's five aces along the way.
Still, the Bears were able to hold their ground and rebuilt a 20-16 lead, but back came the Lions. A 4-0 run sparked by a kill and two blocks by Ikwuazom leveled the score at 20. Brown came back to earn double match point, 24-22, but one final 4-0 push won Columbia the set. Neblett and Malesevic blocked Ehlert to bring the set to a 24-all tie, before another ace from Campbell and a Malesevic kill put the set away in favor of the Lions.
The shift in momentum carried over to the third, where the Lions never trailed on their way to their seventh 3-0 sweep of the season. Ikwuazom got the set started with a kill and three straight points that included kills by Luciana Del Valle and Neblett to put Columbia in front 8-3. Brown pulled within a point on several occasions, but Columbia scored five of the last six points to earn the victory.
Columbia turns around and heads to Yale (7-2 Ivy) on Saturday at 5 p.m. The Lions defeated the Bulldogs earlier in the season at Levien Gym and can pull into a tie for second place with a win Saturday.
