NEW YORK – Columbia volleyball dropped a straight-sets decision to Harvard on Saturday night at Levien Gymnasium. The Lions battled through three tight frames but ultimately fell 16-25, 23–25, 17–25 to the Crimson in Ivy League play.
Senior outside hitter Eva Atkins paced Columbia (2-11, 0-3 Ivy League) offensively with 11 kills on .444 hitting, adding three block assists. Fellow senior Juliana Williamson provided an efficient spark up the middle, recording seven kills on nine swings without an error (.778) and four block assists. Setter Clara Yu dished out 22 assists and chipped in four digs. Charlotte Gravlee added six kills at a .333 clip to round out the Lions' offensive leaders.
Harvard (3–8, 2–1 Ivy) used 11 service aces and nine blocks to keep Columbia's attack in check, while the Lions finished with 35 kills on .200 hitting and six team blocks. The Crimson's balanced attack featured five players recording five or more kills, while hitting .302 as a team. Leading the attack for Crimson was Sofia Rossi, who had a team-high 11 kills on the night.
In the opening frame, Columbia traded points early and pulled even at 9–9 after a Josie Zynczak kill, but Harvard responded with a 6–1 run to build separation. Service pressure and blocking helped the Crimson close out the frame on a 10–4 stretch.
The Lions delivered their most complete set of the night, hitting .345. Williamson and Atkins fueled a 6–1 Columbia run to grab a 16–14 lead. The teams traded points down the stretch, tying at 22–22 before two late Harvard aces sealed the set.
In the third and final set, Columbia opened strong with kills from Atkins and Williamson, but Harvard pieced together a mid-set run, using four service aces to break the set open. The Lions fought off three match points before the Crimson finished the match with a kill from Ali Farquhar.
Columbia wraps up a season-long five-match homestand next weekend when Yale and Brown come to Levien Gym. The Lions take on the Bulldogs on Friday, with the first serve scheduled for 7 p.m.
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