LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. — Columbia volleyball continued to show improvement on the young season, taking Belmont to five sets in the morning before earning its first win of the year in the afternoon against Siena in the finale of the Clocktower Tournament hosted by the Saints.
The Lions (1-5) pushed Belmont to the brink in a 3-2 (25-23, 19-25, 25-18, 21-25, 16-18) defeat, then regrouped with their most efficient outing of the year in a thrilling 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-15, 25-19) victory over Siena at the UHY Center.
Elena Maynulet turned in a pair of standout efforts, finishing the day with 28 total kills and 39 digs, recording back-to-back double doubles. She now has five double-doubles on the year.
Avery Jones had a stellar day, adding 23 combined kills and a team-high eight blocks, while
Charlotte Gravlee registered 15 kills and six service aces across the two matches.
Match 1
Columbia seemed poised to get its first win of the season in the match against the Bruins. The Lions' attack was on display with four players finishing in double figures in kills, led by Maynulet's team-high 17.
Evie Naumann had a career-high 13 kills, Jones added 11 kills on 24 swings for a blistering .458 attack percentage, and
Eva Atkins added 10 kills.
Belmont was led by Emily Warmehoven's match-high 19 kills. Brenna Kauffeld added 15, and Brooke Gilleland notched 12.
Columbia came out firing with a 6-0 run behind the serve of
Presley Liberty, who added two aces during the stretch. The Lions held off a late push from the Bruins, sealing the opener on a kill by Naumann, taking the set 25-23.
Belmont regrouped quickly, using balanced scoring and a .333 hitting percentage to even the match to take the second set 25-19. Warmenhoven paced the Bruins with five kills in the frame.
The Lions regained momentum with a strong defensive effort. Jones and Naumann combined for three blocks, while Maynulet recorded five kills in the set. Yu spread the offense effectively, and Columbia closed on a 6-2 run to retake the lead.
The Bruins answered with another efficient frame, led by Warmenhoven's timely kills. Columbia tied the score at 19 before Belmont used a late 6-2 surge to force a decisive fifth.
The final set featured 10 ties and three lead changes. Columbia erased a 12-9 deficit and fought off two match points, with Jones contributing a block and Maynulet landing her 17th kill to extend the frame. Belmont ultimately sealed the match on a Warmenhoven kill.
Match 2
In the afternoon, the Lions delivered their most efficient outing of the season, hitting .329 as a team with 59 kills and 14 service aces. Columbia won the opening set 25-22, dropped the second narrowly, and then controlled the final two frames — hitting .520 in the third — to secure the program's first win of 2025.
Gravlee totaled 10 kills and three aces, Jones hit .458 with 12 kills, and Maynulet added 11 kills with 22 digs. Yu contributed 25 assists, while
Delaney Seaman anchored the back row with 15 digs.
Siena (3-6) was led by Doga Diraz, who notched a match-high 17 kills. Gabrielle Wire also finished in double figures with 14 kills.
Columbia overcame a slow start with a 5-0 run fueled by Maynulet and Gravlee. Seaman kept the ball alive with four digs in the frame, and Jones finished with a kill to close out the set, 25-22.
The second was neck-and-neck, featuring 14 ties. Gravlee posted four kills and an ace, but Siena capitalized on late Columbia errors to edge the set 25-23.
The Lions dominated with their best offensive set of the year, hitting .520. Happ and Atkins combined for three blocks at the net, while Jones tallied four kills on five swings to lead Columbia to a decisive 25-15 win.
Columbia carried momentum into the fourth. Maynulet delivered four kills and two aces, and Gravlee added back-to-back points late to secure the match. Seaman closed the day with her 15th dig as the Lions earned their first win of 2025.
Columbia looks to keep the momentum going when it takes on Iona on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in New Rochelle, N.Y. The match will be the first of three for Columbia as they participate in the Iona/FDU Invitational.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
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