NEW YORK -- Saturday was an action-packed day at Levien Gymnasium as the Columbia volleyball team looked to capitalize on their momentum from the night prior. After picking up their first win of the season against Manhattan, the Lions faced the Morgan State Bears and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in their second and third games of the weekend tournament today. Columbia defeated Morgan State in a thrilling five set match to start the day (24-26, 25-9, 25-21, 21-25, 16-14) and then, despite a valiant effort, fell to Rutgers in four sets later in the night (25-23, 25-27, 14-25, 23-25).
 

Game 1:

Columbia started the first set strong using kills from Hailee Watts and Maria Milisa, as well as phenomenal blocks from Milisa, Amanda Holsen, Avery Jones, and Soah Franklin to jump out to an 8-4 lead. The Bears answered with a run of their own to take a 15-13 heading into the media timeout. The score remained tight with Columbia pulling out to a 24-22 lead before a 4-0 Morgan State run won the first set for the Bears, 26-24.
 
The second set was all Lions. Columbia responded to the tough end of the first set by dominating the second. Morgan State couldn't find their rhythm as the noise inside the gym grew louder. Watts, Franklin, Anna Gioranidi, and Harper Justema each crushed multiple kills as the Lions made a statement, winning the set 25-9 and tying up the match.
 
It was Morgan State that got off to a hot start in the third, jumping out to a 6-1 lead. This time, it was Columbia that responded quickly with a 5-1 run of their own to even up the game. The Lions took their first lead of the set at 12-11 after a ferocious block by Franklin, which seemed to ignite Columbia's offense. The two teams exchanged leads back and forth until a huge kill by Gioranidi sealed the set for the Lions and put them in the driver's seat.  
 
The fourth set was another closely contested battle. A 3-1 start by Columbia was one of two times that the Lions led in the fourth. Down 18-14, Watts had two back-to-back kills and a service ace. However, it was not enough and Morgan State took the fourth set 25-21.
 
The deciding fifth set was intense and the two teams traded leads, none larger than two points. An impressive kill by Cadence Gronski gave Columbia a 10-9 lead and got the crowd on their feet and brought the momentum in the favor of the Lions. The gymnasium erupted when Franklin sealed the deal with an emphatic kill, giving Columbia a 16-14 win in the set, and securing the second consecutive match for the Lions.
 
Watts led the match with a career-high 15 kills (spoiler alert, this doesn't last long) to go along with 10 digs for her first career double-double. Gioranidi was also in double digits, posting a career-high 10 kills.  First-year libero Delaney
Seaman finished the match with a game-high, and career-high, 21 digs. Ruby van der Heide notched 28 assists along with 8 digs, and Franklin had 9 kills with 7 blocks.
 
The Lions led the Bears in points (77-64), kills (57-47), hitting percentage (.222-.069), assists (51-45), and digs (65-57), whereas Morgan State led in aces (9-6).
 

Game 2:

The Lions came into this match hungry for their third win in a row. Columbia and Rutgers could not be separated for much of the first set, as both teams went back-and-forth for the majority of the game. Tied at 16-16, a long and intense rally ended with a huge combined block by Milisa and Watts to give Columbia the lead. The Lions and Scarlet Knights continued to battle, until Franklin had a huge kill to steal the lead back for Columbia at 23-22. It was Gioranidi kill again, carrying the momentum over from the morning, that sealed an impressive set for the Lions and put Columbia up 1-0 in the match. 
 
The Lions continued to roll to start the second set, bursting out to an early 5-1 lead thanks to a big kill from Avery Jones. The Lions kept up the momentum as kills from Eva Atkins and Hailee Watts pushed the lead to 11-6 and forced a Rutgers timeout. The Scarlet Knights battled back to tie the set at 15-15, but Columbia responded well as back-to-back Watts kills regained the lead. The Lions and the crowd thought that the second set was won on a Franklin kill with the score 24-23, but the point was overturned due to a net violation. Franklin would respond and help the Lions fend off a set point thanks to a huge kill up the middle, but eventually, it was the Scarlet Knights that came out on top of another thrilling set, 27-25.
 
Franklin and Atkins opened the third set with a big combined block for the Lions, but they could never really find their footing. Rutgers would answer the block with a huge run, opening up a 15-5 lead. Columbia tried to stay in it, closing the gap to seven on multiple occasions, but it wouldn't be enough. Rutgers took the third set 25-14. 
 
The Lions again started the fourth set well on a Watts kill from the left side. The teams went back and forth early in the set, with the Lions tying things up at 7-7 after two big kills from Atkins and Watts. Columbia took its first lead at 12-11 on another kill from Watts, but that would be the last lead the Lions would see. Rutgers couldn't pull away, as Columbia fought until the bitter end trying to keep its winning streak alive. The Lions would cut the deficit to just one at 24-23 and try to push the match into bonus rallies, but the Scarlet Knights wouldn't have it. Rutgers secured a 25-23 win, denying the Lions their first ever win over a Big Ten team despite a great effort. 
 
Watts broke her career high in kills for the third match in a row, this time posting 17 kills to go along with 9 digs. Eva Atkins had the second most kills with 12, matching her career-high. Ruby van der Heide posted 24 assists and two service aces on the night, both team-highs. Milisa led the team in blocks with five.
 
Despite the loss, Columbia and Rutgers were close in many statistical categories. Total blocks were 8-7 in favor of the Scarlet Knights and kills were 57-48. Columbia actually had more service aces (6-5) than Rutgers on the night. 



 
The Lions' return to action at the Red Storm Invitational in Queens where they will take on the Bryant Bulldogs on Friday, September 15th at 4:00 p.m.,  followed by a match against Buffalo on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. 
 
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.