Columbia Falls In Four Sets To Stony Brook

Friday, September 17

College Park, Md.

4:00 p.m.

Columbia University

2-5,0-0Ivy League

Stony Brook

5-7,0-0America East

Stony Brook

Columbia

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

9/17/2021 7:54:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Columbia Volleyball fell, 3-1, to Stony Brook to open its weekend at the Maryland Challenge.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Columbia Volleyball opened their weekend in Maryland by dropping their first match of the Maryland Challenge in a tough four-set battle with Stony Brook, falling 3-1 on Friday, Sept. 17 at the XFINITY Center Pavilion.

The loss drops Columbia's record to 2-5, while Stony Brook improves to 5-7. The match was the first between Stony Brook and Columbia on a neutral court since 2001.

Continuing her hot start to the season, Noelle Foster again was a force for Columbia, finishing with 15 kills on .205 hitting percentage. Joining in on the attacking fun was Logan Harlock, who had the most kills of her short career, racking up 15 kills to join Foster with Columbia's match highs.

Defensively, Columbia was strong finishing with eight blocks and holding Stony Brook to .158 hitting percentage, but they were unable to take advantage of their performance to get the win. Adding yet another double-double was Cadence Gronski, who finished with a match-high 46 assists and added 15 digs.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The first set was an absolute battle and set the stage for the next four sets. Throughout the set, Columbia and Stony Brook tied 13 times and the lead swapped hands five times, a feat that would not be matched during the other three sets.

Columbia did have set point, sitting at 25-24, but a service error from Isa Lamus allowed Stony Brook to tie the set back up at 25-25. The Seawolves would get the next two points to wrap up the set, and it was finished by a kill from Enitan Omolewa.

In the second set, Harlock came alive, as she was on fire from the word go collecting six kills on a scorching .308 hitting. She was set by Gronski, who racked up 11 assists during the set as well. But, despite the strong performances from Harlock and Gronski, the Seawolves pulled away early to take the set. Things were tied up at 10-10, and it looked like it might be a carbon copy of the previous set, but Stony Brook took off from that point and won the set 25-17 to go up 2-0 in the match.

With their backs against the wall, Columbia found what they needed to keep the match going. After the score was tied at 9-9, the Lions took off, scoring six of the next eight points to push their lead to 17-12. Down the stretch, Stony Brook came on hard, and following a service ace from Stony Brook's Torri Henry, the score sat at 20-17 and head coach Allison Keeley took a timeout.

Following the timeout, a calmer Columbia took to the court to finish the set, and with Mckenzy Metter on the service line Columbia did just that. Metter finished the set with an exclamation point, smashing an ace to give Columbia the 25-17 set win and putting the match score at 25-17.

Six tie scores and three lead changes would be how the fourth set went, and out of the gate the Lions looked poised to push things to a fifth set, taking an early 5-0 lead out of the gate on strong serving by Gronski. But Stony Brook would battle back and eventually tied things back up at 10-10. Late in the set, following a successful challenge by Columbia to put the score at 20-20, Stony Brook started to pull away. And over the next six points, Stony Brook scored five and finished off the match, winning the set 25-21 and the match 3-1.

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 (914) 960 - 3971 or by email 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's busy weekend in Maryland continues tomorrow with a 10:30 a.m. match against Akron, before wrapping up the weekend with a 7 p.m. match against the hosting Maryland Terrapins. Both matches will be streamed on BIG10+($) and live stats will be provided by Maryland Athletics.

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).