Columbia Drops Match At Brown

Saturday, October 2

Providence, R.I.

5:00 p.m.

Columbia University

4-8,1-2Ivy League

Brown

10-3,3-0Ivy League

Columbia

Brown

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

10/2/2021 9:07:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Columbia Volleyball fell in four sets at Brown in a Saturday night Ivy League matchup, highlighted by Noelle Foster's 24 kills.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In the second Ivy League match of the weekend, Columbia Volleyball (4-8, 1-2 IVY) nearly mounted a comeback, but fell short in four sets at Brown (10-3, 3-0 IVY) at the Pizzitola Sports Center, wrapping up Columbia's weekend on the road.

Noelle Foster set a career-high with 24 kills, the most by a Lion this year, hitting .238 in the process as she was a force that the Brown Bears did not have an answer for. On the other side, Emily Teehan added 16 kills on a scorching .400 hitting percentage, but the offensive nights for the pair of Lion hitters would not be enough to answer Brown's own attack.

It was not without effort from the Lions, as they had a season-high 12 total blocks and held Brown to .250 hitting, while hitting .273 themselves. But a third set where they hit just .089 and a team serving percentage that sat at .892 on the night, were both numbers that Columbia could not overcome on their way to dropping the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The first set saw seven tie scores and four lead changes, a theme that would continue throughout the match, but Columbia would find itself on the wrong end of the final lead change. Midway through the set, things were tied at 10-10, a quick run from Brown, on serving by Kayla Griebl and Kaitlyn Wong, pushed Brown's lead to 17-13 and it seemed as though they might pull away.

But a pair of kills each from Teehan and Foster put Columbia right back in the mix and the score would be tied up for the final time at 23-23. Brown would collect the final two points, and the set (25-23), but Columbia had shown that they would not be out of any set.

An explosion of eight kills on .438 hitting by Foster, to go along with 14 assists from Cadence Gronski, was the story of the second set, where Columbia looked to answer right back. Much like the first set, it was close up to the midway point, but at 18-16, and Columbia in front, Yooni Park took to the line and her service was highlighted by two quick kills by Teehan, and after Saj McBurrows smashed home a kill to make it 20-17, the Lions never looked back.

Brown would get as close as 23-21, before a Teehan klll was helped out by an attack error from Kate Sheire to help the Lions wrap up the 25-21 second set win.

Teehan came alive, much like Foster did in the second, with seven kills (.467) in the third set, but unlike the first two sets the score would not be as close. Brown had already cracked 15 points by the time Columbia reached 10 and despite Columbia pulling within two points at 20-18, the Bears did not give up the lead and took the third set 25-20 to take a 2-1 lead into the fourth set.

With their backs against the wall, the Lions played the fourth set with determination, and the 14 tie scores and five lead changes reflects that effort. Brown nearly finished the match off with a flurry late in the set, and at 18-15 head coach Allison Keeley needed to calm things down. Coming out of the timeout the Lions, thanks to kills from Foster and Isa Lamus, would tie the score at 19-19 and set up a sprint finish to the end.

Gronski took to the line and served four straight points, which included three kills from Foster, and the Lions had set point at 24-23. But a well-timed timeout taken by Brown settled the Bears down and the final three points fell Brown's way, giving them the 26-24 fourth set win and 3-1 overall win in the match.

GAME NOTES: Foster's 24 kills was a career-high … Gronski recorded her sixth double-double of the season (42 assists/12 digs) … Columbia's 12 total blocks is a season-high … Franklin's six blocks is a season-high and one short of her career-high (seven).

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 returns to Morningside with another Ivy League weekend, as Penn comes to Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium on Friday, Oct. 8, followed by Princeton who will visit 120th Street and Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 9 to wrap up the weekend. Both matches will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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).