NEW YORK -- The Columbia volleyball team concluded Mental Health Awareness Week Saturday evening with an Ivy League match against Yale in Levien Gymnasium on Saturday night. The Lions
fell in straight sets (25-11, 25-16, 25-15) to the conference-leading Bulldogs.

The Lions were playing in support of the Hilinski's Hope Foundation (H3H). This foundation was founded in 2018 by Mark and Kym Hilinski to honor the life of their son Tyler, who died by suicide yet never showed any signs of depression or struggle. To all those struggling, you don't have to walk alone or suffer in silence. We look towards a future free from mental health stigma, because each and every one of us has mental health, and mental health matters. To donate, or learn more about the Hilinski's Hope Foundation, click HERE. 

Yale quickly seized control of the first set, racking up kills and attaining a sizable lead right from the get-go. Hailee Watts notched two kills, but the Lions had an otherwise uneventful set. The Bulldogs came out
on top, 25-11, in the first set of Columbia's mental health awareness match. 

Things played out differently in the second set, but Yale ultimately won 25-16. The Lions only held the lead once at 3-2, but remained close behind Yale the entire time. Kills from Eva Atkins and Soah Franklin electrified the crowd and seemed to light a fire under Columbia's offense. Nevertheless, the Bulldogs were able to respond to each run from the Lions, finishing the set on a 5-0 run to take a 2-0 lead in the match. 

Columbia entered the third set with its back against the wall. Trying to avoid being swept on back-to-back nights, Atkins tallied four prior to the media timeout, but the Lions still found themselves trailing 15-9. That deficit expanded to 21-12 before Columbia used its last timeout in an effort to save its night. Those efforts were for naught, however, as Yale completed the sweep and prevailed with a 25-15 victory in the third set.

Atkins led the team with eight kills on the night. Cadence Gronski set up her teammates well all evening and finished with 16 assists. Franklin notched three blocks to go with her six kills. First-year Delaney Seaman finished with seven digs.

The Lions will take their first Ivy League road trip of the season next weekend, traveling to take on Princeton and Penn. Columbia will take on the Tigers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday in New Jersey, before taking on the Quakers on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. in Pennsylvania. Columbia will attempt to end its eight-game losing skid and earn its first Ivy League victory of the season on the trip. 

Columbia Giving Day is set for October 25. To donate, click HERE. 


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