Friday, September 13
Philadelphia, Pa.
4:00 P.M.
Columbia University
vs
Lehigh
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/David Collins
Columbia Heads To Temple For A Trio Of Weekend Matches
9/12/2019 11:07:00 AM | Volleyball
The Lions will take part in the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing Cherry & White Challenge, starting with Lehigh on Friday, Sept. 13, before concluding with Temple and Radford on Saturday, Sept. 14.
PHILADELPHIA – After a strong first weekend of the 2019 season, Columbia Volleyball (2-1) remains on the road for another trio of weekend matches, this time the Lions will be heading to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to take part in the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn's Landing Cherry & White Challenge where they will face Lehigh (5-3) (4 p.m.) on Friday, Sept. 13, before wrapping up the weekend by taking on hosting Temple (6-0) (11 a.m.) and Radford (3-3) (4 p.m.) on Saturday, Sept. 14.
HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW
vs. Lehigh – Live Stats | Twitter (@CUVB)
at Temple – Live Stats | Watch (OWLS-TV) | Twitter (@CUVB)
vs. Radford – Live Stats | Twitter (@CUVB)
REVIEWING THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND: Columbia began its 2019 campaign going 2-1 over its weekend spent at St. John's taking part in the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic. The Lions first took down Howard in five sets, digging deep to hold off the late charging Bison, on its way to the first win of the season.
Following its win against Howard, the Lions took on the hosting Red Storm, and despite a strong showing in the second and third sets, including forcing extra points in the third set, the Lions fell in straight sets to St. John's to even out at 1-1. Columbia bounced back in its final match of the weekend, playing the role of dominance taking down Canisius in straight sets to end the weekend 2-1 and get off to its best three match start since 2014.
FEELING VERY 90s: This weekend's matches have ties for the 1990's for Columbia as this will be the first matchup against Temple since 1994 and Columbia's matchup with Lehigh will be the second neutral site matchup between the two, with the last taking place at Temple in 1993. To put it in perspective, when the calendar last read 1993-94, the United States was hosting the FIFA World Cup, the Houston Rockets had won back-to-back NBA titles, a gallon of gas cost $1.11 and the average national cost of a new house was $154,500.
HAVE A WEEKEND CHICHI: Columbia senior Chichi Ikwuazom had herself a start to the 2019 season, earning Ivy League Player of the Week honors thanks to 61 total kills, including a career-high 27 kills against Howard, a hitting percentage of .440 and she was aggressive all weekend long recording 116 total attacks. Within the Ivy League, Ikwuazom is leading in four categories, kills, kills per set (5.55), total points (68.5) and points per set (6.23).
NATIONAL CHICHI: Although the Lions have only played three matches, Ikwuazom's impressive performance has put her near the top on a few national rankings. Her 6.23 points per set places her fifth while her 5.55 kills per set puts her seventh in the country.
IMPRESSIVE ROBICHAUD: First-year Kiara Robichaud was impressive on the offensive side during her first weekend of collegiate action. Playing all five sets against Howard, Robichaud had 10 kills on 27 attacks to put her stamp on the action as she was the only Lion besides Ikwuazom who hit double digits in kills during that match.
Robichaud's impressive start continued against St. John's where she again recorded double-digit kills recording 10 kills while hitting an efficient .364 over the three sets. The Lion first-year then added seven more kills against Canisius to bring her total kills over the first weekend of her career to 27.
WHAT THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS BRING: Lehigh brings a five-match winning streak into the weekend, having held home court over the past five matches. During that stretch, the Mountain Hawks knocked off fellow Ivy League member Penn, 3-1, in what was Lehigh's home opener on Sept. 6, and that win kick started the five-match winning streak where Lehigh has outscored its opponents, 15-4.
Overall, Columbia leads the all-time series 4-2, and this is the first matchup between the two programs since 2009 when Columbia took down Lehigh in five sets on Morningside. This will be the first neutral site meeting between the two sides since Lehigh won 3-1 in 1993, with that meeting taking place on the campus of Temple much like Friday's matchup will.
The Mountain Hawks are led offensively by Hannah Wright and Sabrina Lancaster, both of which have over 70 kills with Wright recording 75 and Lancaster's 74 sitting right behind her. At the net, Lehigh's Emily Poole and Lauren Bright have been strong, with Poole's 26 total blocks and Bright's 24 leading the way. As a team, Lehigh is hitting .248 while holding teams to a attack percentage of .176.
WHAT THE OWLS BRING: Having not lost a match over its first six contests, Temple enters its home opening weekend sitting at 6-0 having one five out of its six matches without dropping a set. The toughest match for Temple so far came in Washington, D.C. at the American Volleyball Classic when Ohio took them to five sets in that tournament's first match.
Columbia's matchup with Temple will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1994, and Temple leads the all-time series 2-0. Both matches played between to two have taken place in Philadelphia, meaning that Columbia and Temple will have all three of its meetings at Temple.
The Owls are led on the attack by Gem Grimshaw's 82 kills, with Grimshaw hitting .304 and averaging 4.10 kills per set to power the Temple offense. As for Temple's defense, Kayla Spells leads the way at the net with a team-high 24 blocks, while Averi Salvador's 110 digs and 5.50 digs per set is helping Temple keep volley's alive and Salvador's 5.50 digs per set ranks her 23rd in the nation.
WHAT THE HIGHLANDERS BRING: Coming off its opening weekend, Radford comes into Philadelphia sitting at 3-3, the Highlanders will play both Temple and Lehigh before facing the Lions but enter the weekend having lost two out of the previous three matches. During its opening weekend, the Highlanders lost to Toledo (3-2), knocked off Fordham (3-1), before losing to Rider (3-0).
This will be the first time either programs have met on the court.
Offensively, Radford's Stephanie Neast is powering the Highlanders with 64 kills, hitting .228, while averaging 2.91 kills per set. As a team, the Highlanders are hitting just .143 while allowing opponents to hit .170 on the attack. Both Mackenzie Meehan and Mallory McKnight have been protecting the net for Radford, with Meehan's 25 blocks and McKnight's 24 blocks leading the way for the Highlanders.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Volleyball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CUVB), Instagram (@columbiawvb) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW
vs. Lehigh – Live Stats | Twitter (@CUVB)
at Temple – Live Stats | Watch (OWLS-TV) | Twitter (@CUVB)
vs. Radford – Live Stats | Twitter (@CUVB)
REVIEWING THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND: Columbia began its 2019 campaign going 2-1 over its weekend spent at St. John's taking part in the Jack Kaiser Volleyball Classic. The Lions first took down Howard in five sets, digging deep to hold off the late charging Bison, on its way to the first win of the season.
Following its win against Howard, the Lions took on the hosting Red Storm, and despite a strong showing in the second and third sets, including forcing extra points in the third set, the Lions fell in straight sets to St. John's to even out at 1-1. Columbia bounced back in its final match of the weekend, playing the role of dominance taking down Canisius in straight sets to end the weekend 2-1 and get off to its best three match start since 2014.
FEELING VERY 90s: This weekend's matches have ties for the 1990's for Columbia as this will be the first matchup against Temple since 1994 and Columbia's matchup with Lehigh will be the second neutral site matchup between the two, with the last taking place at Temple in 1993. To put it in perspective, when the calendar last read 1993-94, the United States was hosting the FIFA World Cup, the Houston Rockets had won back-to-back NBA titles, a gallon of gas cost $1.11 and the average national cost of a new house was $154,500.
HAVE A WEEKEND CHICHI: Columbia senior Chichi Ikwuazom had herself a start to the 2019 season, earning Ivy League Player of the Week honors thanks to 61 total kills, including a career-high 27 kills against Howard, a hitting percentage of .440 and she was aggressive all weekend long recording 116 total attacks. Within the Ivy League, Ikwuazom is leading in four categories, kills, kills per set (5.55), total points (68.5) and points per set (6.23).
NATIONAL CHICHI: Although the Lions have only played three matches, Ikwuazom's impressive performance has put her near the top on a few national rankings. Her 6.23 points per set places her fifth while her 5.55 kills per set puts her seventh in the country.
IMPRESSIVE ROBICHAUD: First-year Kiara Robichaud was impressive on the offensive side during her first weekend of collegiate action. Playing all five sets against Howard, Robichaud had 10 kills on 27 attacks to put her stamp on the action as she was the only Lion besides Ikwuazom who hit double digits in kills during that match.
Robichaud's impressive start continued against St. John's where she again recorded double-digit kills recording 10 kills while hitting an efficient .364 over the three sets. The Lion first-year then added seven more kills against Canisius to bring her total kills over the first weekend of her career to 27.
WHAT THE MOUNTAIN HAWKS BRING: Lehigh brings a five-match winning streak into the weekend, having held home court over the past five matches. During that stretch, the Mountain Hawks knocked off fellow Ivy League member Penn, 3-1, in what was Lehigh's home opener on Sept. 6, and that win kick started the five-match winning streak where Lehigh has outscored its opponents, 15-4.
Overall, Columbia leads the all-time series 4-2, and this is the first matchup between the two programs since 2009 when Columbia took down Lehigh in five sets on Morningside. This will be the first neutral site meeting between the two sides since Lehigh won 3-1 in 1993, with that meeting taking place on the campus of Temple much like Friday's matchup will.
The Mountain Hawks are led offensively by Hannah Wright and Sabrina Lancaster, both of which have over 70 kills with Wright recording 75 and Lancaster's 74 sitting right behind her. At the net, Lehigh's Emily Poole and Lauren Bright have been strong, with Poole's 26 total blocks and Bright's 24 leading the way. As a team, Lehigh is hitting .248 while holding teams to a attack percentage of .176.
WHAT THE OWLS BRING: Having not lost a match over its first six contests, Temple enters its home opening weekend sitting at 6-0 having one five out of its six matches without dropping a set. The toughest match for Temple so far came in Washington, D.C. at the American Volleyball Classic when Ohio took them to five sets in that tournament's first match.
Columbia's matchup with Temple will be the first meeting between the two programs since 1994, and Temple leads the all-time series 2-0. Both matches played between to two have taken place in Philadelphia, meaning that Columbia and Temple will have all three of its meetings at Temple.
The Owls are led on the attack by Gem Grimshaw's 82 kills, with Grimshaw hitting .304 and averaging 4.10 kills per set to power the Temple offense. As for Temple's defense, Kayla Spells leads the way at the net with a team-high 24 blocks, while Averi Salvador's 110 digs and 5.50 digs per set is helping Temple keep volley's alive and Salvador's 5.50 digs per set ranks her 23rd in the nation.
WHAT THE HIGHLANDERS BRING: Coming off its opening weekend, Radford comes into Philadelphia sitting at 3-3, the Highlanders will play both Temple and Lehigh before facing the Lions but enter the weekend having lost two out of the previous three matches. During its opening weekend, the Highlanders lost to Toledo (3-2), knocked off Fordham (3-1), before losing to Rider (3-0).
This will be the first time either programs have met on the court.
Offensively, Radford's Stephanie Neast is powering the Highlanders with 64 kills, hitting .228, while averaging 2.91 kills per set. As a team, the Highlanders are hitting just .143 while allowing opponents to hit .170 on the attack. Both Mackenzie Meehan and Mallory McKnight have been protecting the net for Radford, with Meehan's 25 blocks and McKnight's 24 blocks leading the way for the Highlanders.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Volleyball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CUVB), Instagram (@columbiawvb) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).
Players Mentioned
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