Volleyball Set for Three at Blue Hen Invitational

Friday, September 7

Newark, Del.

10:00 A.M.

Columbia University

Grand Canyon

Kalie Wood (left) ranks No. 2 in the Ivy League with 4.91 digs/set after the first weekend.

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

Volleyball Set for Three at Blue Hen Invitational

9/6/2018 2:38:00 PM | Volleyball

Live Video vs. Delaware Live Stats vs. GCU Live Stats vs. Marist Live Stats vs. Delaware

Columbia looks to build on last weekend's performances with matches against Grand Canyon Marist and Delaware this weekend

NEW YORK — The Columbia volleyball team heads to Delaware for three matches at the Blue Hen Invitational this Friday and Saturday. The Lions (1-2) meet up with Grand Canyon (4-2) and Marist (3-4) on Friday at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, before wrapping up against host Delaware on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Fans can follow the action by tracking the live stats for all three matches powered by StatBroadcast. Saturday's game against the Blue Hens will be live streamed on YouTube.

LION LEADERS
Kills: Emily Teehan – 44, 4.00/set
Assists: Audrey Cheng – 89, 8.09/set
Digs: Kalie Wood – 54, 4.91/set
Blocks: Isa Lamus – 10, 0.91/set
Aces: Emily Teehan – 9, 0.82/set

ALL-TOURNAMENT DEBUT
First-year Isa Lamus began her collegiate career with an all-tournament team selection at last weekend's Holy Cross Invitational. The middle from Miami, Florida, hit .404 through three matches with 32 kills and a team-high 10 blocks. One of those performances included a match-high 14 kills at a .435 clip against an undefeated Drake side. She had eight kills and hit .333 in the three-set victory over Holy Cross and was named to this week's Ivy League Honor Roll.

TEEING OFF
First-year Emily Teehan led the Columbia attack with 44 kills and 4.00 kills per set at the season-opening Holy Cross Invitational. She debuted with a double-double that included 15 digs and a match-high 17 kills in a five-set battle against Rhode Island. Saturday, the Toronto native put up 17 more kills at a .536 clip to lead the Lions to victory over the host Crusaders. Teehan concluded the tournament with 10 kills and four aces against Drake. The rookie has an Ivy League-leading nine aces and 0.82 aces per set through the early going. Teehan joined Lamus on the Ivy League Honor Roll.

FIRST WIN FOR KEELEY
Head coach Alliston Keeley earned her first Columbia victory when the Lions took care of tournament host Holy Cross in three sets (25-19, 25-19, 25-19) on Saturday. Keeley is in her 11th season as an NCAA Div. I head coach and 19th season collegiately overall. Saturday's win was also the 225th of her career.

CAREER DAY FOR CASEY
Senior right side Madeleine Casey posted career-highs of 16 kills, nine digs and six blocks in last Friday's season opener against Rhode Island. The San Diego native posted four kills in the first set, six in the fourth and three in the fifth as Columbia tried to hang on. Casey added 10 more kills in the win over Holy Cross and ranks No. 6 in the Ivy League in kills per set.

IVY LEAGUE WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
September 3 – Isa Lamus, Emily Teehan

THIS WEEKEND'S MATCHUPS
Grand Canyon (4-2)
Date: Friday, Sept. 7 – 10:00 a.m.
Media: Live Stats
Series: First Meeting

Team Leaders:
Kills: Annabelle Kubinski – 62, 2.38/set
Assists: Kayla Redfield – 228, 8.77/set
Digs: Teagan DeFalco – 112, 4.31/set
Blocks: Annabelle Kubinski – 24.0. 0.92/set
Aces: Kayla Matthews – 8, 0.36/set

Grand Canyon hosted the GCU Invitational last weekend, winning a five-set match against Southern Utah and sweeping Jacksonville State before falling in three sets to Boston College. Each of its first four matches went to five sets, including all three contests two weeks ago against New Mexico (W), Idaho (L) and Santa Clara (W) at the Idaho Volleyball Classic. The Lopes are led on the court by freshman Annabelle Kubinski, who averages a team-best 2.38 kills and 0.92 blocks per set. Kubinski and freshman middle Kaira Moss were named to last weekend's all-tournament team. Grand Canyon joined the NCAA Div. I ranks in 2013.

Marist (3-4)
Date: Friday, Sept. 7 – 3:00 p.m.
Media: Live Stats
Series: Columbia leads 7-3
Last Meeting: Sept. 8, 2017 at URI Tournament
Result: Columbia 3, Marist 0 (25-20, 25-18, 25-17)

Team Leaders:
Kills: Nikki DeSerpa – 72, 2.57/set
Assists: Taylor van der Biezen – 194, 6.93/set
Digs: Morgan Owens – 110, 3.79/set
Blocks: Megan Fergus – 18.0, 0.62/set
Aces: Morgan Owens – 11, 0.38/set

Marist went 1-2 at each of its first two preseason tournaments, opening the season with a five-set victory over William & Mary and also defeating Fordham in five sets last weekend in the Bronx. Junior Stephanie Stone was named to the Rose Hill Classic All-tournament Team after recording 19 kills and 11 total blocks across the weekend. The Red Foxes added a third five-set victory on Tuesday, beginning the home season with a thrilling finish over Army (25-23, 16-25, 19-25, 25-15, 15-13). Sophomore Chidera Udeh hit .722 with career-high 14 kills and four blocks while junior Megan Fergus led the way with 14 kills and five blocks. Columbia and Marist renewed the series after eight years at last season's Art Carmichael Invitational in Rhode Island. The Lions overwhelmed the Red Foxes by hitting .323 and holding the their opponent to .183. Natasha Kosowicz had a team-high dozen kills and hit .348.

Delaware (3-3)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 8 – 12:30 p.m.
Media: Live Video | Live Stats
Series: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2012 at Delaware Invitational
Result: Columbia 3, Delaware 1 (25-23, 25-18, 17-25, 25-22)

Team Leaders:
Kills: Maria Bellinger – 90, 4.09/set
Assists: Courtnie Roberts – 239, 10.86/set
Digs: Andie Hanus – 130, 5.91/set
Blocks: Julia Hayes – 23.0, 1.05/set
Aces: Cailey Bracken – 10, 0.45/set

Delaware will be hosting its second tournament of the season. The Blue Hens began the year with back-to-back victories over Morgan State and La Salle in the Delaware Classic. Villanova spoiled the perfect weekend by defeating the home side in four. Last weekend, Delaware took one of three matches at the FIU Panther Fest, earning a three-set sweep over Savanah State. FIU rallied from a 2-1 deficit to win in five while Chicago State bested Delaware in straight sets. Junior outside Maria Bellinger leads the CAA with 4.09 kills and 4.39 points per set. Libero Andie Hanus leads the league in digs at 5.91 per set. Saturday will mark the third all-time meeting between the programs since the series began in 1990. The Lions were victorious in four six years ago at the Delaware Invitational.