Lions Fall to Harvard in Three

Friday, October 31

Cambridge, Mass.

7:00 PM

Columbia University

2-17,0-9Ivy League

Harvard

5-12,4-5Ivy League

Columbia

Harvard

Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.

10/31/2025 8:56:00 PM | Volleyball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

?Ruby van der Heide records 1,600 career assists

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Columbia pushed Harvard through two tight sets before falling 3–0 (25–22, 26–24, 25–13) Friday night at the Malkin Athletic Center.

Eva Atkins led Columbia with eight kills and four blocks, while Lauren Farris matched with eight kills on .273 hitting. Maria Happ chipped in five kills and three blocks. Senior setter Ruby van der Heide finished with 26 assists and seven digs. She notched her 1,600 assist in the third set.

Harvard (5–12, 4–5 Ivy League) earned its second consecutive victory and completed the season sweep over the Lions.. The Crimson were led by Isabel Kelly, who posted a match-high 12 kills on .348 hitting, while Ashley Wang added nine kills, 26 assists, and 10 digs for a double-double.

In the opening frame, Harvard jumped ahead 6–1 out of the gate, forcing Columbia to regroup early. The Lions steadied behind kills from Atkins and Farris, trimming the deficit to 12–10 after a 5–1 run capped by a Happ block. Columbia continued to apply pressure, using a 4–0 stretch late in the set to close within 23–22. However, the Crimson scored the final two points to take the opener, 25–22. Columbia hit .179 in the set with four players recording multiple kills.

In the second set, the Lions seized early momentum with back-to-back aces from Presley Liberty to spark a 6–1 run that gave Columbia a 10–5 lead. van der Heide orchestrated a balanced offense, finding Happ and Farris on the pins as the Lions built a commanding 20–12 advantage. But Harvard responded with a 7–0 run, capitalizing on Columbia's errors and timely serving to tie the score at 21–21. The Lions briefly regained set point at 24–23 on a Farris kill, but the Crimson scored the last three points to steal the frame, 26–24. Columbia hit .200 in the set and tallied five service aces.

Harvard carried the momentum into the final frame, racing out to a 10–4 lead behind a .417 hitting percentage. Columbia struggled to slow the Crimson attack despite another pair of kills from Atkins. Harvard used a 9–1 stretch midway through the set to pull away for a 25–13 win and the sweep.

Columbia returns to action tomorrow evening when it wraps up a five-match road trip in Hanover, N.H., taking on Dartmouth. First serve between the Lions and Big Green is slated for 5 p.m.

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