NEW YORK – In what is the first triple-double in over a decade, junior Audrey Cheng's 47 assists, 13 kills and 12 digs, along with senior Chichi Ikwuazom's 24 kills, powered Columbia Volleyball (5-2) to a 3-1 home opening victory over the Fordham Rams (7-4), Thursday night, at Levien Gym.
 
Cheng was efficient as well, hitting .591 on the night while also adding a block.  While Ikwuazom was her normal force, hitting .420 during the match on 50 total attacks.  First-year Kiara Robichaud again was strong for the Lions, collecting 14 kills and four digs as the Lions had 67 kills while holding the Rams to .176 hitting percentage.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED (vs. FORDHAM): The tone for the match was struck in the first set with both sides trading points, until the halfway point when Fordham pulled ahead 16-11.  Columbia took a timeout at that point and it calmed the Lions down as they would have a three-point stretch with Cheng holding serve that saw them get as close as 17-14.  Another timeout by the Lions, once again did the trick as fresh off the break, the Lions would score eight of the final nine points in the set, with Ikwuazom and Cheng each recording a pair of kills during the stretch, to come away with a 25-21 first set win.
 
After the first set comeback, Columbia had proven they are never out of the match, and it would be important as the second set would be the longest set for the Lions since 2017 and involved another 16-11 comeback.  Once again Fordham took a 16-11 lead, but sophomore Emily Teehan took the serve and would hold for four straight points as the Lions worked the score to 17-15.
 
First-year Soah Franklin ripped a kill to give the Lions serve once again, and Cheng carried Columbia for three straight points as the Lions caught and passed the Rams to put the score at 20-19 when Columbia lost serve.  That's when the set truly got rolling, and over the next 19 points, things will be tied up seven different times as the set extended far past 25 points for either side.
 
But it was the Columbia defense that would lock up the set, with senior Kalie Wood serving, blocks by Ikwuazom, Teehan and junior Kaitlin Schultz locked up the 30-28 marathon set victory for the Lions.  Fordham would answer with a third set, 25-20 win, but that set would be all Columbia would give the Rams.
 
Coming off the third set, the Lions came out on fire and with a clear mission, taking a quick 10-3 lead that saw Ikwuazom collect three kills and both Wood, first-year Vanessa Pan and Teehan hold serve for Columbia.  Ironically the Lions would eventually take a 16-11 lead, a deficit that they came back from twice over the first two sets, but unlike Fordham, the Lions would not give up that lead.
 
Fordham did crawl back late, getting within 22-16, but a timeout by the Lions calmed them down and over the final five points, Columbia would take three of them to come away with a 25-18 fourth set win and the 3-1 victory over the Rams.
 
GAME NOTES: Cheng's triple-double is the first in at least 10 years by a Lion ... Cheng's 13 kills is a career-high ... Ikwuazom has now recorded at least 20 kills in six of Columbia's seven matches ... Columbia held Fordham to .176 hitting which is the lowest the Lions have held an opponent to so far this season ... Columbia has now won five straight against the Rams ... The second set was the longest since a 30-28 win over Yale in 2017.
 
UP NEXT: Columbia remains at home for one final match on the weekend when tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 20, the Lions host San Jose State at 7 p.m.  The Lions then hit the road for a Saturday, Sept. 21, matchup at LIU, with that match set to get going at 4 p.m.
 
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).