NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Columbia volleyball continues to build momentum in the early season after knocking off Iona 3-1 (25-22, 25-15, 27-29, 25-14) inside the Hynes Athletics Center to open the Iona/FDU tournament. The win lifted the Lions to 2-5 on the season while handing the Gaels (4-7) their fifth straight loss.

The Lions put together one of their most balanced efforts of the early season, totaling 50 kills on a .221 attack percentage while racking up 13 service aces. Five Columbia players finished with at least seven kills, led by Eva Atkins and Elena Maynulet, who notched 11each. Avery Jones added 10, while Evie Naumann and Charlotte Gravlee chipped in seven each.

Maynulet notched her sixth double-double of the year, recording 11 digs along with her 11 kills. Clara Yu also recorded a double-double, handing out 22 assists along with her team-high 14 digs. Ruby van der Heide and Delaney Seaman joined Yu with three service aces apiece. 

Iona had two players in double figures, led by Julia Leonardo's match-high 17 kills; Kari Smith added 10. Errors plagued the Gaels. Iona had 29 attack errors, along with eight service errors. 

The two teams traded points in the early going, but an 8-2 run by the Lions saw Columbia take a 15-10 advantage in the frame. Columbia's attack saw five players record at least two kills; meanwhile, the Lions' defense at the net tallied four blocks. A late surge keyed by Maynulet and Naumann pushed the Lions ahead, and Jones teamed up with Happ for a block to clinch the 25-22 win.

The Lions carried their momentum into the second, racing out to a 7-1 lead behind a service run from Seaman, who added an ace and two assists during the stretch. Atkins and Jones dominated at the pins, and Columbia closed the frame on a 6-1 run to seal it, 25-15.

The Gaels refused to go quietly, battling through a back-and-forth third set that saw 15 ties and seven lead changes. Columbia had two set points but couldn't convert, as Iona's Julia Leonardo finished with back-to-back kills to edge the Lions, 29-27. 

Columbia regrouped quickly, seizing control with early kills from Atkins and Jones. Yu's serving run pushed the lead to 16-8, and the Lions never looked back. Atkins capped the night with her 11th kill as Columbia cruised to a 25-14 win to close out the match.

The Lions return to action on Friday afternoon when they take on LIU for the second match of the Iona/FDU tournament. First serve between the Lions and the Sharks is slated for 4 p.m. 

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