Columbia Hosts Cornell In Ivy League Opener

Saturday, September 25

New York, N.Y.

2:00 p.m.

Columbia University

Cornell

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

9/24/2021 10:28:00 AM | Volleyball

Watch (ESPN+)Live Stats

Columbia Volleyball welcomes Cornell to Schiller Court at Levien Gym in the Ivy League opener on Sat., Sept. 25.

NEW YORK — With non-conference play essentially in the rearview mirror, Columbia Volleyball (3-6) turns its attention to the Ivy League, with the conference opener against Cornell (4-4) set to get going on Schiller Court at Levien Gymnasium on Saturday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m., Columbia will now play 14 of its next 15 matches against Ivy League competition.

HOW TO WATCH/FOLLOW
vs. Cornell – Live Stats | Watch (ESPN+) | Social Media (@culionsvb)

CRABCAKES AND VOLLEYBALL: The Lions returned to the road last weekend, heading down to College Park, Maryland to take part in the Maryland Challenge, where they faced Stony Brook, Akron and hosting Maryland over the weekend of Sept. 17-18. Columbia went 1-2, making a comeback against Akron to take their match against the Zips in four sets, and falling to Stony Brook and Maryland.

The win against Akron was impressive because the Lions held the Zips to under 20 points in their three winning sets. It was the first time that Columbia had accomplished that feat since Sept. 1, 2018, against Holy Cross.

ALL-MARYLAND CHALLENGE: For the second straight week, Noelle Foster had herself a weekend, once again earning All-Tournament honors making it two straight weekends. Joining Foster with All-Maryland Challenge honors was Cadence Gronski, who set the course for the Lions over all three matches.

Foster's attack was relentless, as the Lion junior finished with 46 kills and hit .259 percent over three matches. For Gronski, she added to her strong start to the season, collecting 125 assists at 11.40 assists per set.

LIONS IN THE IVY LEAGUE: The strong starts by Gronski and Foster have placed them at or near the top in several categories. Gronski's been a force setting the Columbia offense, as she sits first in the league in total assists (336) and second in assists per set (10.50). Gronski's 10.50 assists per set also cracks the top 40 in the nation, placing her 39th in the country.

Foster's offensive numbers have been leading the Lions and, in the league, she sits fourth in kills per set (3.78), total kills (121) and points per set (4.09). Soah Franklin sits inside the top 10 in blocks per set (0.89) while Vanessa Pan (3.50) and Shari Stenglein (3.44) sit eighth and ninth respectively in digs per set.

BARNARD SHOWED UP (AGAIN): Just as it went in the opening weekend in West Point, Columbia's Barnard College women came to play over the weekend, with Pan collecting All-Tournament honors and Gronski adding a pair of double doubles in strong performances for the Lions.

Pan opened the weekend by collecting 25 digs against St. Francis Brooklyn, before racking up 17 more against Iona. As for Gronski, she recorded 45 assists and 10 digs against St. Francis Brooklyn, and with 27 kills and 11 digs against Seton Hall, gave herself a pair of double doubles on the weekend.

CORNELL MATCHUP: Saturday's match, which is quickly becoming tradition, will be the 15th straight season where Columbia and Cornell have met and opened their Ivy League campaigns in September. The Big Red enter the match at 4-4, having dropped their previous match against Duke (0-3), after taking a win over LIU at the Duke Invitational (Sept. 17-18).

All-time, Cornell leads the series 43-12, and the Big Red have taken the previous four meeting between the two Ivy League sides. Columbia's last win over Cornell came on Oct. 21, 2017, in a four-set win on Morningside.

Kate Stration leads the Ivy League in aces per set (0.57), which also places her 21st in the nation. As a team, Cornell sits second in the Ivy League and 39th in the country with 16.43 digs per set and their 37.50 team attacks per set place them third in the league and 22nd in the nation.

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.

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).