NEW YORK — Charged by the play and energy of its senior class, the Columbia volleyball team closed out the home season with a four-set victory over Penn (25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 25-21) Saturday evening in Ivy League action at Levien Gymnasium.
 
The Lions celebrated the careers of their four-year senior class – Madeleine Casey, Luciana Del Valle, Natasha Kosowicz and Lauren Wilkins – prior to the start of the match. Each played their part in the victory, led by Wilkins who hit .344 with 14 kills and three blocks in her farewell to the home crowd. The Cincinnati, Ohio native came up big at the end, slamming home each of the final four Columbia points to seal the victory in four.
 
"I think the extra motivation from Senior Night was a big factor," said Wilkins, who has posted 10 or more kills in nine matches on the season. "It really gave us the push we needed to get over the hump and win those last few points."
 
After splitting two close sets, Columbia (10-12, 4-8 Ivy) found itself trailing 13-7 in the third. Casey rose up for one of her five kills to turn the tide before first-year Shari Stenglein provided a timely ace to level the score at 17. Columbia was still clawing from behind down, 23-21, but scored the final four points to take a 2-1 set lead. Del Valle pulled through with the final point off a long rally.
 
"It was a really good way to end our careers here," said Casey, who finished the night hitting .300 with five kills and two digs. "I think this match was super important, especially coming off some losses earlier in the season."
 
The win snapped Columbia's six-match losing streak since defeating Brown in four sets on October 6. It also keeps the Lions one game back of fourth place heading into the final weekend.
 
Del Valle filled up the stat sheet with seven kills, three digs, an assist, an ace and a block. She will end her Columbia career next weekend with more than 500 kills and 600 digs. Kosowicz provided seven digs and will finish out her four-year career with more than 500.
 
Senior Night also provided a positive look into the future of Columbia volleyball. First-year Emily Teehan powered home her third straight 15-kill match and added 11 digs for her team-leading ninth double-double of the campaign. First-year middle Isa Lamus hit .333 with 10 kills and three blocks while sophomore setter Audrey Cheng provided 40 assists on Columbia's 60 kills. Junior Kalie Wood led the match on the ground with 15 digs.
 
Penn (5-18, 2-10 Ivy) was led by Parker Jones' match-high 18 kills (.357). The sophomore also went for 10 digs and three blocks. Senior Brooke Behrbaum hit .389 with 10 kills and setter Grace James tallied 47 assists and 12 digs.
 
Columbia clipped Penn on the attack, .282 to .278, finishing the night plus-nine in kills on 16 additional attack attempts. The Lions also outdid the Quakers in digs, 52-50, and blocks, 6-5, all of which helped in earning the narrow victory.
 
The Lions wrap up the season next weekend at Brown on Friday and Yale on Saturday. Both matches 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.