Columbia Drops A Pair Of Matches In Final Day At West Point

Saturday, September 4

West Point, N.Y.

2:30 p.m.

Columbia University

0-2,0-0Ivy League

Sacred Heart

3-3,0-0NEC

Sacred Heart

Columbia

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics/Mike McLaughlin

Columbia Drops A Pair Of Matches In Final Day At West Point

9/4/2021 9:41:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Box Score (SHU)PDF Box Score (Army)

Columbia Volleyball fell to Sacred Heart (3-1) and Army (3-0) on the final day of the Black Knights Invitational.

WEST POINT, N.Y. — In the final day of the Black Knights Invitational hosted by Army, Columbia Volleyball (0-3) dropped a pair of matches, falling 3-1 to Sacred Heart (3-3) and the hosting Black Knights (5-1) in straight sets at Gillis Field House on Saturday, Sept. 4.

Columbia fell 25-23, 23-25, 18-25, 14-25 to Sacred Heart and dropped their match with Army, 23-25, 20-25, 23-25.

The Lions were led on the day by juniors Noelle Foster, who finished with 23 kills over the two matches, and Vanessa Pan, who collected 31 digs over the two matches. First-year Cadence Gronski also added to the mix, recording 71 assists over Saturday's action.

HOW IT HAPPENED (SACRED HEART): The first two sets basically mirrored each other, with Columbia taking the opening set (25-23), before dropping the second set (23-25) to the Pioneers. During that first set, which was the first winning set for the Lions during the 2021 season, Columbia had to dig deep to take the win.

Out of the gate the Lions were strong, with Gronski getting it started with the serve, and over the first 15 points the Lions took 10 and held an early 10-5 lead. But over the set, Sacred Heart battled back and for every attack it seemed that Sacred Heart had an answer.

Late in that first set, Sacred Heart tied it up at 22-22, and it was there that Columbia found what they needed. And over the final four points, junior Pierce Woodall came through for the Lions recorded three kills to power Columbia to the 25-23 set win and an early 1-0 lead in the match.

Over the next three sets, unfortunately for Columbia, Sacred Heart found what has made them a tough team to face over the past handful of seasons. After taking the second set (25-23) to tie up the overall score, the Pioneers controlled the action over the final two sets, taking set three, 25-18 and the final set, 25-14. The three straight set victories for Sacred Heart gave them the 3-1 win in the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED (ARMY): In the second match of the day, Columbia faced the hosting Black Knights, who would control the action for most of the three sets, eventually winning in straight sets. But each set Columbia fought hard, pushing the score to be tied 21 times during the three sets.

In the first and third sets, Columbia was in the conversation down the stretch, including fighting off a pair of first set point thanks to Foster's kill at 24-22 and a service ace from Pan at 24-23, but in that set a late timeout by Army settled the Black Knights down and they would finish with a 25-23 win.

The third set was easily the best performance from Columbia in the match, with the Lions holding the lead for much of the set. It was only down the stretch where Army caught up and pulled away, and after tying it at 23-23 (the first such tie since 17-17) Army finished the set and match off, winning the third set, 25-23 and the match 3-0.

WEEKEND NOTES: Foster led the way for the Lions with 31 kills, 3.10 k/s and 35.5 points … Woodall added 24 kills over the weekend … In her first collegiate action, Gronski set the table better than any Lion finishing with 91 assists at 9.10 a/s … At the net sophomore Soah Franklin was a wall, finishing with 11 blocks … Pan collected 45 digs over the three matches.

NEXT UP: Columbia opens up Levien Gym for the first time in 2021 with a busy weekend of hosting the Big Apple Tournament, starting on Friday, Sept. 10 when the Lions play their first match on Levien Court since Nov. 9, 2019 by taking on St. Francis Brooklyn. Columbia's busy weekend wraps up on Saturday, Sept. 11 when the Lions take on Iona (1 p.m.) and Seton Hall (7 p.m.). All matches will be streamed 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).