Lions Dismantle Harvard In Straight Sets

Saturday, October 16

Cambridge, Mass.

5:00 p.m.

Columbia University

5-11, 2-6Ivy

Harvard

7-9, 4-3Ivy

Columbia

Harvard

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

10/16/2021 9:47:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Columbia Volleyball battled to a straight set win at Harvard to snap an Ivy League skid.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Finished with a service ace from Noelle Foster and powered by nine team blocks, Columbia Volleyball (5-11, 2-5 IVY) snapped its Ivy League skid with a straight set demolition of Harvard (7-9, 4-3 IVY) Saturday night at the Malkin Athletic Center.

For the Lions, it's the third straight win against Harvard, and the second straight set win over the Crimson out of the past three meetings between the two programs.

Foster's ace put the bow on Columbia's win, but her team-high 16 kills helped the Lions remain in control for the entire match. Foster hit .484 on the night, and her offensive numbers were complimented by double-digit kills by Isa Lamus (11) and Emily Teehan (10).

Columbia really put its stamp on the match at the net, out blocking Harvard nine to six, and it was again Soah Franklin who was the force for the Lions, finishing with a match-high five blocks. Overall, the Lions out hit Harvard, .330 to .181, and were able to play a cleaner game then the Crimson, finishing with only 13 errors to Harvard's 18.

Never a doubt in our minds. 😤😤#WinningAce | #RoarLionRoar pic.twitter.com/ZQnXQMSGRb
— Columbia Volleyball (@CULionsVB) October 17, 2021

HOW IT HAPPENED: Right out of the gate the Lions made sure to set the tone and five blocks while holding the Crimson to .073 percent hitting during the first set helped that cause tremendously. Both sides were pretty even early on, and the first 11 points resulted in a 6-5 lead for the Lions.

At this point in the set, Columbia began to pull away and as the Lions cracked 15 points their play at the net began to make a difference. With the score at 15-10, three straight blocks, all of which involved Franklin, pushed the Lions eight points ahead of the Crimson, forcing Harvard to take a timeout.

The timeout would not make a difference and the Lions, thanks to a pair of kills by Lamus and a powerful strike that echoed in the gym from Pierce Woodall, wrapped up the set with a 25-18 win.

At the start of the second set, it looked like Harvard might begin to pull away early, but five straight errors by Harvard early on allowed Columbia to stay in the set and at 9-9, Harvard's Katie Vorhies committed the fourth consecutive attack error, pushing Columbia ahead 10-9. Harvard took the lead back, but Foster smashed home three straight kills right in the heart of a 6-1 run that pushed Columbia in front for good.

Harvard did find a 5-0 run late in the set, fighting off set point during all five points, but Lamus smashed home a set from Shari Stenglein to wrap up the 25-23 second set win and a 2-0 advantage in the match for Columbia.

The final set was a competitive one, as understandably Harvard did not want to get swept at home, but the Lions had already broke out the brooms and the extra points played to decide the set was not a problem for the Lions. From 20-20 on the set would be tied six times, with both teams trading points as things rolled past the 25-point mark.

During that final stretch, the Lions fought off a pair of set points for Harvard, but at 23-24 Columbia got a kill from Lamus and at 24-25 Foster kept Columbia's hopes for a straight set win alive. Following Foster's kill to knot it up at 25-25, Logan Harlock made her presence known, smashing home kills at 25-25 and 26-26 with her final kill giving Columbia the chance to serve for match point.

Foster took to the line, and her looping serve found the space on the floor it needed and before the ball bounced twice on the floor the Lions had stormed the court to celebrate a well-earned 28-26 final set win and the straight set win over Harvard.

GAME NOTES: The straight set win was the second straight set win over Harvard in the last three meetings … This is Columbia's first straight set win of the season … Teehan posted a double-double finishing with 10 kills and 11 digs … Franklin now has 25 total blocks against Ivy League competition … Foster's winning ace is the second of her career, the first coming against Princeton on Oct. 9, 2021 … The final set was the first time this season Columbia won a set that was decided after 25 points.

VENUE POLICIES: Volleyball spectator attendance will be restricted to a limited pass list only due to University COVID protocols and in accordance with NYC Executive Order 225.

If you are Columbia fan, fully vaccinated and would like to attend a volleyball game this fall, please contact Assistant Volleyball Coach Julia Anderson at ja3445@columbia.edu to get on the Volleyball guest list. You must be on the guest list to be able to attend a volleyball game at Levien Gymnasium before the game you would like to attend. There is limited availability for each home contest.

NEXT UP: Columbia hosts Rider for a midweek non-conference matchup on Wednesday, Oct. 20 before returning to Ivy League play with a visit to Cornell on Saturday, Oct. 23. Both matches will be on ESPN+ with live stats provided by the Columbia Athletics Department and the Cornell Athletics Department.

FOLLOWING THE LIONS: Stay up to date on all things Columbia Volleyball by following the Lions on Twitter (@CULionsVB), Instagram (@culionsvb) and on Facebook (@ColumbiaAthletics).