Saturday, October 18
Princeton, N.J.
5:00 PM
Columbia University
2-15,0-7Ivy League
0
at
3
Princeton
10-5,5-2Ivy League
1
2
3
F
Columbia
21
15
19
0
Princeton
25
25
25
3
Lions Fall to Tigers in Three
10/18/2025 6:52:00 PM | Volleyball
Seven players record two or more kills for the Lions
PRINCETON, N.J. — Columbia volleyball opened strong but couldn't sustain momentum on the road, falling in three to Princeton (25–21, 25–15, 25–19) Saturday evening at Dillon Gym.
The Lions (2–15, 0–7 Ivy League) delivered an energetic first set and matched the Tigers in attack efficiency for much of the night, hitting .217 overall to Princeton's .404. Columbia showed depth across its lineup, with eight different players recording at least one kill and seven finishing with three or more.
Eva Atkins paced the offense with eight kills on a .313 hitting clip while adding a solo block. Charlotte Gravlee followed with five kills and a .571 attack percentage, while Elena Maynulet tallied six kills, five digs, two blocks, and an ace. Setter Clara Yu dished out 14 assists and notched five digs, while Ruby van der Heide added 13 assists, three aces, and a kill. Defensively, libero Presley Liberty led with eight digs, supported by Delaney Seaman's six.
Princeton (10-5, 5-2 Ivy) had three players finish in double figures, led by Lucia Scalamandre's match-high 12 kills on 15 swings. Valerie Nukator chipped in 11 kills on 21 swings, while Erin McNair had 10 kills.
In the opening set, Columbia surged out to a 5–1 start behind two early aces from van der Heide and a kill of her own. Princeton regrouped behind Scalamandre's five kills, but the Lions continued to trade points, pulling even at 14–14 and 19–19 before the Tigers edged ahead late. Atkins and Juliana Williamson each posted three kills in the frame as Columbia hit .219.
In the second set, the Tigers' attack found its rhythm, hitting .567 to take the second set 25–15 despite another balanced Columbia showing. Atkins, Gravlee, and Lauren Farris each landed key kills, and Maynulet added a strong serving run to keep the Lions within reach midway through.
In the final frame, Columbia once again started quickly, leading 10–8 after another ace from van der Heide and kills from Atkins and Maria Happ, who sparked the offense off the bench with three kills on five swings (.600). Princeton's efficiency at the net, however, proved decisive down the stretch as Scalamandre and Nutakor closed out the set.
Columbia returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Ithaca, N.Y. to take on Cornell. First serve between the Lions and Big Red is scheduled for 2 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
The Lions (2–15, 0–7 Ivy League) delivered an energetic first set and matched the Tigers in attack efficiency for much of the night, hitting .217 overall to Princeton's .404. Columbia showed depth across its lineup, with eight different players recording at least one kill and seven finishing with three or more.
Eva Atkins paced the offense with eight kills on a .313 hitting clip while adding a solo block. Charlotte Gravlee followed with five kills and a .571 attack percentage, while Elena Maynulet tallied six kills, five digs, two blocks, and an ace. Setter Clara Yu dished out 14 assists and notched five digs, while Ruby van der Heide added 13 assists, three aces, and a kill. Defensively, libero Presley Liberty led with eight digs, supported by Delaney Seaman's six.
Princeton (10-5, 5-2 Ivy) had three players finish in double figures, led by Lucia Scalamandre's match-high 12 kills on 15 swings. Valerie Nukator chipped in 11 kills on 21 swings, while Erin McNair had 10 kills.
In the opening set, Columbia surged out to a 5–1 start behind two early aces from van der Heide and a kill of her own. Princeton regrouped behind Scalamandre's five kills, but the Lions continued to trade points, pulling even at 14–14 and 19–19 before the Tigers edged ahead late. Atkins and Juliana Williamson each posted three kills in the frame as Columbia hit .219.
In the second set, the Tigers' attack found its rhythm, hitting .567 to take the second set 25–15 despite another balanced Columbia showing. Atkins, Gravlee, and Lauren Farris each landed key kills, and Maynulet added a strong serving run to keep the Lions within reach midway through.
In the final frame, Columbia once again started quickly, leading 10–8 after another ace from van der Heide and kills from Atkins and Maria Happ, who sparked the offense off the bench with three kills on five swings (.600). Princeton's efficiency at the net, however, proved decisive down the stretch as Scalamandre and Nutakor closed out the set.
Columbia returns to action next Saturday when it travels to Ithaca, N.Y. to take on Cornell. First serve between the Lions and Big Red is scheduled for 2 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Team Stats
CU
PU
Kills
36
46
Errors
16
8
Attempts
92
94
Hitting %
.217
.404
Points
44.0
58.0
Assists
36
42
Aces
5
6
Blocks
3
6
Game Leaders
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
6
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
5
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Players Mentioned
OPP
/ VolleyballOH
/ VolleyballOPP
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ VolleyballOH
/ Volleyball
DS/S
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
Highlights: VB | Columbia vs. Yale (10.10.25)
Friday, October 10
Highlights: VB | Columbia vs. Belmont and Siena
Saturday, September 13
Highlights: VB | Columbia vs. Fordham 9-6-26
Saturday, September 06
Highlights: VB | Columbia 3, Harvard 2
Saturday, November 02
