PRINCETON, N.J. — The Columbia volleyball team couldn't come up with enough firepower to take down Princeton, falling to the defending Ivy League champions in three sets (20-25, 15-25, 16-25) Saturday evening at Jadwin Gymnasium.
 
Columbia (9-8, 3-4 Ivy) led by at least four points in the early parts of both the second and third sets but was unable to hold on either time. Princeton (13-5, 6-1 Ivy) countered a 7-2 Lions start to the second set with 16 of the next 19 points to take a two-set lead. The Lions continued to fight and held a 12-8 lead at the midpoint of the third. However, they would only score four points the rest of the way as Princeton put down seven unanswered to complete the sweep.
 
"I thought we matched up really well for long stretches but Princeton made it tough for us and disrupted our passing with their serve game," head coach Allison Keeley said. "They're very offensive and have more weapons than most teams in our league."
 
Seniors Lauren Wilkins and Luciana Del Valle led Columbia's offense with nine and eight kills, respectively. Del Valle's came at a .300 hitting percentage, adding three blocks, two digs and an ace. She completed the weekend hitting .298 with a team-high 17 kills to go with five blocks.
 
"I thought Luciana had a good weekend and played well again today," Keeley added. "I liked her competitiveness and aggressiveness on the court. Audrey Cheng had a nice game as well. She's made a lot of improvements in her defense and her setting has steadied out. She's getting our hitters more quality sets and into more one-on-one situations."
 
Cheng assisted 20 of Columbia's 26 kills against the Tigers and also completed the evening with six digs, two blocks and two kills. The sophomore setter eclipsed 500 assists on the season and entered the weekend fifth in the Ivy League in assists per set (8.60).
 
First-year middle Isa Lamus led the defensive effort at the net with a match-high five blocks. Senior libero Kalie Wood led all players on either side of the floor in digs with 11.
 
Princeton powered its way to a team hitting percentage of .308 behind junior Maggie O'Connell's match-high 11 kills. The reigning Ivy League Player of the Year hit .455 and was one of two Tigers in double figures, joined by classmate Devon Peterkin's 10. Senior middle Caroline Sklaver also gave the Lions trouble, hitting .429 with nine kills.
 
Columbia plays just one match next weekend, traveling upstate to battle Cornell on Saturday. First serve in Ithaca is scheduled for 2 p.m. The match will be available on ESPN+.

WATCH ON ESPN+
After the Ivy League announced its partnership with ESPN, all home and Ivy League volleyball matches are scheduled to be played on the ESPN+ this fall. To sign up for ESPN+ for as low as $4.99/month or $49.99/annually, and catch all the action this season click here.