ITHACA, N.Y. – Columbia Volleyball (7-2, 0-1 IVY) dropped its Ivy League opener in straight sets, 3-0, to the Cornell Big Red (8-2, 1-0 IVY), in a Saturday afternoon match at Newman Arena in what was both squad's 2019 conference opener.
 
Senior Chichi Ikwuazom was solid again for the Lions as she recorded 15 kills while hitting .407.  As a team, Columbia had eight total blocks to Cornell's six as they were strong defending the net all match long.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: Through the first 21 points the Lions were neck and neck with the Big Red, and at the midway point of the first set, the score was tied up at 12-12.  But from there Cornell would pull ahead and that would be the closest the Lions would get to taking a set through the remainder of match and when the set was over Cornell had taken the set, 25-20. 
 
The Lions would stay with Cornell over the first 16 points of the second set, but with the score at 10-6, Cornell began to pull away and over the middle part of the set the Big Red would create a lead that the Lions could not overcome.  The score was 16-10, and Ikwuazom did rip of back-to-back kills to attempt to keep the Lions in the game, but Cornell would begin to pull away and they took the set, 25-19, to take a 2-0 lead heading into the third set.
 
From the start of the third set, Cornell controlled the action and at one point they had taken a 15-8 over Columbia, roughly midway through the set.  The Lions did make a run late, and for within 23-19, but the final two points would go to the Big Red and they took the third set, 25-19, and the match in straight sets, 3-0.
 
UP NEXT: Columbia returns home for one final non-conference match when Stony Brook visits Levien Gym, on Monday, Sept. 30 with that match set to get started at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast at ESPN+.
 
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