Columbia University
Syracuse
Volleyball Opens 2024 Season with Big Apple Tournament at Levien this Weekend
9/4/2024 2:00:00 PM | Volleyball
The Lions will take on Syracuse on Friday at 11:00 a.m. to kick off the year
The Lions are hosting a tournament at Levien Gymnasium for the 16th consecutive season, with Fordham, Syracuse, and Manhattan participating this weekend. Columbia will square off against Manhattan on Friday night and Fordham on Saturday afternoon.
All fans who plan to attend any of the five matches will need to use the entrance to Levien Gymnasium on 120th street.
FULL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
After the Lions kick off the tournament on Friday morning against Syracuse, there will be three more games later in the day. In total, there will be six matches played between Friday and Saturday, all of which will be streamed via ESPN+ and live stats will be available HERE. The full schedule can be found below.
Friday, September 6: Columbia vs. Syracuse (11 a.m.) - STREAM
Friday, September 6: Manhattan vs. Fordham (1:30 p.m.) - STREAM
Friday, September 6: Fordham vs. Syracuse (5 p.m.) - STREAM
Friday, September 6: Columbia vs. Manhattan (7 p.m.) - STREAM
Saturday, September 7: Syracuse vs. Manhattan (Noon) - STREAM
Saturday, September 7: Columbia vs. Fordham (2 p.m.) - STREAM
YEAR THREE
The Columbia volleyball program will embark on its third full season under the leadership of Head Coach Patric Santiago on Friday morning, as the Lions look to defy expectations and improve upon last year's results.
Columbia is coming off a 2023 season in which they finished 3-20, and 1-13 in Ivy League play. The Lions finished eighth in the conference last year, and that is where they have been picked to finish once again in the 2024 Ivy League Preseason Poll. However, that is anything but a formality.
"We're really excited for our 2024 campaign to get underway this weekend," Santiago said. "Our team's preseason has been productive, fun and intentional. We have been improving and are hungry to improve more throughout the year. In our first two years we were shaping our culture and working to figure out what the identity of our program is and I think the lessons we learned in this process were invaluable and will help our staff and our players take ownership in their roles on our team.
With hopes to help usher in this new era of great improvement and excellence for the Lions, Santiago made a change on his coaching staff. Joining the Lions is the excellent volleyball mind of Angel Agu, the former Head Coach at the University of Rhode Island.
"We could not be more excited to usher in a new era of Columbia Volleyball, beginning with the addition of Coach Angel," Santiago said. "Angel knows what it is like to be on the bench on volleyball's biggest stage, the national championship. In addition, the inspiring trajectory of her playing career culminated in her being team captain for Dayton teams that won four conference championships during her time there. As impressive as her playing and coaching results have been, they pale in comparison to Angel's ability to cultivate relationships, connect with people, and tirelessly work to help all those around her be the best versions of themselves."
Agu could not be more excited for the upcoming season.
"This group of young women have been an absolute joy to coach this preseason," Agu said. "What makes this team so special is how everyone is able to bring energy in a different way! Coach Santiago has done an incredible job of continuing to instill our brand — the brand of what it means to be a part of Columbia volleyball…While also preparing for what will be a fun and competitive preseason schedule."
Santiago also echoed this excitement. "This preseason our players have seemed to really commit to supporting each other and to embodying championship behaviors every day in practice which should greatly strengthen our team," he said. "We'll look for this to translate into a free, authentic and competitive energy in Levien throughout the season."
NEW FACES
Columbia welcomed five newcomers to the squad ahead of the 2024 season. Two of the new Lions, Maria Happ and Charlotte Gravlee, join Columbia from south Florida. Meanwhile, Clara Yu hails from Maryland, and Josie Zynczak is from North Carolina. Joining them will be Hanna Vorhies, who was around the team last year and officially joined Columbia as a transfer ahead of the 2024 season.
"This fall we have five new players in our gym and we are very happy with how they have courageously integrated themselves in our culture," Santiago said. "In our gym there are no bystanders and these young women are no exception. They are here to get to work, lead and help in anyway that's needed."
Santiago had a lot to say about each individual in the class.
"Vorhies, a transfer junior has been with us since the spring and has been a great example of how a player should work to grow their game everyday. Hanna brings a great energy and level of gratitude to our gym."
"Our two middle blockers, Maria Happ and Charlotte Gravlee, are wonderful additions, giving us four middles who can all play and make a substantial impact at our level. On one hand it's very hard to chose the two middles from our cadre that will start the matches, but there is no doubt any two will be strong and well supported by the other two. Our middles really do a tremendous job of competing with and for each other, while being in complete support of each other and our team."
"Josie Zynczak has impressed us with her attacking this preseason and proven that she can score on our level in and out of system. She has improved her game already in a short time and it will be a lot of fun to see how far she will continue to improve it."
"Clara Yu has a tremendous mind set and calmness about her which has let her compete at the setter slot immediately. Everyday she becomes more and more comfortable in our gym which will allow her to thrive. Our setters are both incredibly joyful and light, but when they train they get down to business and have been really fun to watch work this preseason."
For more on the entire class, and what they will be bringing to the team, click HERE.
SENIOR LEADERS
After graduating a senior class consisting of eight talented leaders that appeared in 295 sets and accounted for 238 kills, 282 digs, 148 assists, 144 total blocks, and 31 aces, the Lions will turn to a new group of rising seniors tasked with leading the team this season.
This new group of seniors consists of Harper Justema, Hailee Watts, and Anna Giornidi, and Coach Santiago has big expectations for them this season.
"We think that our seniors have done an outstanding job this year leading," Santiago said. "Their behaviors and words show a great understanding of leadership being about a lot more than telling people what to do. They have provided support, guidance and most importantly a heightened level of service and empowerment in their leadership. This is a great group that has done a lot of intentional work that has not always been easy on how they want to lead and what legacy they want to leave. Their commitment to this process has been inspiring and exciting. "
"Harper has been a driving force in the clear communication of our standards and values while positively providing accountability. She looks poised to get everything she can out of her senior year."
"Anna Gioranidi is a constant source of energy and passion for our team and has made sure all of our players feel supported when things get tough in training. Anna has been modeling greater intent in her training this year and is committed to doing whatever she can to help our team."
"Hailee Watts has also done a great job in figuring out what leadership our team needs and how she can help. Hailee's leadership in competing during our gameplay and scrimmage has been wonderful. She has shown that what she wants to shine through this year is her love of the game and desire to get it done for her team."
OPPONENT INFO
Rosters, Schedules, and Stats for all the opposing teams can be found below.
Syracuse: Roster, Schedule, Stats
Manhattan: Roster, Schedule, Stats
Fordham: Roster, Schedule, Stats
ON DECK
Columbia will embark on a 11-game road trip following the Big Apple Tournament. Next weekend, the Lions will participate in the Friar Classic, hosted by Providence in Rhode Island. Columbia will play its first game against Stonehill on Friday at 5 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW
All Columbia home games, and every Ivy League game, will be streamed via ESPN+. You can find Friday's game against Syracuse HERE.
Live stats will be available via gocolumbialions.com, HERE.
In-game updates will be provided on both Twitter and Instagram.
For the latest on Columbia lacrosse, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
