Saturday, October 24
New York, N.Y.
6:00 PM
Columbia
vs
Cornell
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Alicia Yu
10/23/2026 10:49:00 AM | Volleyball
Lions begin second half of conference slate
NEW YORK - The Columbia volleyball program begins the back half of its conference slate Saturday evening, when Cornell comes to Levien Gym. Saturday's match against the Big Red kicks off a five-match homestand that continues the following weekend when Penn and Princeton come to Manhattan.
Saturday's match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first serve and will be streamed on ESPN+. Perri Kitei and Chrystal Stone will have the call live courtside. Fans can also follow the action via live stats.
All fans planning to attend either of the matches will need to use the entrance to Levien Gymnasium located on 120th Street.
QUICK HITS
• The Lions went 0-2 on the road last weekend, falling in three to both Yale and Brown.
• With the two road losses, Columbia falls to 7-9 overall and 1-6 in the Ivy League.
• At 1-6, the Lions are currently in 7th place in the Ivy League standings, one spot above Dartmouth.
• Columbia returns home this week, hosting Cornell. At Levien Gym, the Lions are 4-1 this year, which includes a thrilling 3-2 reverse sweep of Dartmouth on Oct. 10, Columbia's last home contest.
• This will be the second meeting against the Big Red; earlier this year, the Lions were swept at Cornell on Sept. 26.
• As a team, the Lions are averaging 11.54 kills per set while hitting .199. Their opponents average 12.22 kills per set while hitting .236.
LAST TIME OUT
Columbia fell to Brown in three sets, 25-15, 25-15, 25-14, last Saturday at the Pizzitola Sports Center in Providence. The Lions' attack managed just 26 kills, while hitting .146. Alexia Cornea led Columbia with seven kills. Dahlia Roberts chipped in six. Brown punished the Lions, hitting .409 as a team and was led by Fisayo Afonja's match-high 15 kills on 27 swings.
LION CUBS
Columbia is undergoing a talented youth movement. Led by its underclassmen, the Lions are getting significant contributions from six sophomores and first-year players. Elena Maynulet (2.59 kills per set), Elise Hiemstra (2.79 kps), and Alexia Cornea (2.67 kps) led the Lions' attack, while Dahlia Roberts (1.23 kps) and Danica Nordlicht (1.16 kps) also provide depth. Nordlicht leads the Lions with 41.0 total blocks and averages 0.91 blocks per set. Claire Mo is the Lions' other setter, averaging 3.88 assists per set and 1.60 digs per set.
KEY NUMBERS
As we begin the back half of the conference slate, here are some key numbers for the Lions in wins and losses. Columbia is 6-1 on the year when hitting .249 or better; they are 1-8 when hitting .248 or lower. When Columbia averages 13.00 kills per set or better, they are 7-0. When the Lions hold opponents to a .248 or lower attack percentage, they are also 6-1. When the Lions hold their opponents to 11 kills per set or fewer, they are 7-0.
MILESTONE WATCH
• Elena Maynulet is 15 kills away from her 400th career kill.
• Delaney Seaman has 738 career digs - she is 26 shy of cracking Columbia's top-10 for digs in a career.
• Avery Jones is three kills shy of a new career-high. Her current career-high is 87, set in 2025.
• Alexia Cornea is sitting on 99 kills for her young career.
• Charlotte Gravlee is 10 total blocks away from 100 total blocks in her career.
WHO IS HOT
First-year opposite Dahlia Roberts had a strong weekend in the Lions' previous two matches. The Fort Worth native led the Lions with 11 kills, averaging 2.20 kills per set and a .296 attack percentage. In the Lions' loss to Yale, she led Columbia with five kills on 11 swings. Roberts followed that up with six kills on 16 swings with just one error for a .313 attack percentage against Brown. This season, Roberts averages 1.23 kills per set and is hitting .179 in 31 sets played.
SCOUTING CORNELL
Cornell enters Saturday's match with a 10-6 overall record; in the Ivy League, the Big Red are 6-1 and in second in the conference standings. Last time out, Yale snapped the Big Red's six-match winning streak, handing Cornell a 3-1 defeat in New Haven, Conn. With the loss, Cornell falls to 3-4 on the road this year. As a team, the Big Red average 12.59 kills per set, which is third in the Ivy League. Three players average more than 2.0 kills per set; junior middle blocker Mackenzie Parsons leads the team at 3.16 kills per set.
LAST TIME OUT VS. CORNELL
The Big Red handed the Lions a 3-0 defeat on their home floor on Sept. 26. Elena Maynulet had a strong night for the Lions, leading Columbia with 14 kills while hitting .355. Cornell hit .412 and was led by Mackenzie Parson with 14 kills; Ava Bogan chipped in 11.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
In a series dating back to 1983, when the Columbia/Barnard Athletic Consortium began, the Lions are 14-59 against Cornell. At home, the Lions are 10-23 against the Big Red. After a 3-0 win on Sept. 26, Cornell is 9-1 against the Lions.
OPPONENT INFO
Rosters, Schedules, and Stats for all opposing teams are below.
CORNELL: Roster, Schedule, Stats
ON DECK
Columbia returns home next weekend for two Ivy League matches. They open the weekend taking on the Penn Quakers on Friday. That match is scheduled for A 6 p.m. first serve. They close the homestand hosting Princeton on Saturday. That match is slated for a 5 p.m. first serve.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Saturday's match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. first serve and will be streamed on ESPN+. Perri Kitei and Chrystal Stone will have the call live courtside. Fans can also follow the action via live stats.
All fans planning to attend either of the matches will need to use the entrance to Levien Gymnasium located on 120th Street.
QUICK HITS
• The Lions went 0-2 on the road last weekend, falling in three to both Yale and Brown.
• With the two road losses, Columbia falls to 7-9 overall and 1-6 in the Ivy League.
• At 1-6, the Lions are currently in 7th place in the Ivy League standings, one spot above Dartmouth.
• Columbia returns home this week, hosting Cornell. At Levien Gym, the Lions are 4-1 this year, which includes a thrilling 3-2 reverse sweep of Dartmouth on Oct. 10, Columbia's last home contest.
• This will be the second meeting against the Big Red; earlier this year, the Lions were swept at Cornell on Sept. 26.
• As a team, the Lions are averaging 11.54 kills per set while hitting .199. Their opponents average 12.22 kills per set while hitting .236.
LAST TIME OUT
Columbia fell to Brown in three sets, 25-15, 25-15, 25-14, last Saturday at the Pizzitola Sports Center in Providence. The Lions' attack managed just 26 kills, while hitting .146. Alexia Cornea led Columbia with seven kills. Dahlia Roberts chipped in six. Brown punished the Lions, hitting .409 as a team and was led by Fisayo Afonja's match-high 15 kills on 27 swings.
LION CUBS
Columbia is undergoing a talented youth movement. Led by its underclassmen, the Lions are getting significant contributions from six sophomores and first-year players. Elena Maynulet (2.59 kills per set), Elise Hiemstra (2.79 kps), and Alexia Cornea (2.67 kps) led the Lions' attack, while Dahlia Roberts (1.23 kps) and Danica Nordlicht (1.16 kps) also provide depth. Nordlicht leads the Lions with 41.0 total blocks and averages 0.91 blocks per set. Claire Mo is the Lions' other setter, averaging 3.88 assists per set and 1.60 digs per set.
KEY NUMBERS
As we begin the back half of the conference slate, here are some key numbers for the Lions in wins and losses. Columbia is 6-1 on the year when hitting .249 or better; they are 1-8 when hitting .248 or lower. When Columbia averages 13.00 kills per set or better, they are 7-0. When the Lions hold opponents to a .248 or lower attack percentage, they are also 6-1. When the Lions hold their opponents to 11 kills per set or fewer, they are 7-0.
MILESTONE WATCH
• Elena Maynulet is 15 kills away from her 400th career kill.
• Delaney Seaman has 738 career digs - she is 26 shy of cracking Columbia's top-10 for digs in a career.
• Avery Jones is three kills shy of a new career-high. Her current career-high is 87, set in 2025.
• Alexia Cornea is sitting on 99 kills for her young career.
• Charlotte Gravlee is 10 total blocks away from 100 total blocks in her career.
WHO IS HOT
First-year opposite Dahlia Roberts had a strong weekend in the Lions' previous two matches. The Fort Worth native led the Lions with 11 kills, averaging 2.20 kills per set and a .296 attack percentage. In the Lions' loss to Yale, she led Columbia with five kills on 11 swings. Roberts followed that up with six kills on 16 swings with just one error for a .313 attack percentage against Brown. This season, Roberts averages 1.23 kills per set and is hitting .179 in 31 sets played.
SCOUTING CORNELL
Cornell enters Saturday's match with a 10-6 overall record; in the Ivy League, the Big Red are 6-1 and in second in the conference standings. Last time out, Yale snapped the Big Red's six-match winning streak, handing Cornell a 3-1 defeat in New Haven, Conn. With the loss, Cornell falls to 3-4 on the road this year. As a team, the Big Red average 12.59 kills per set, which is third in the Ivy League. Three players average more than 2.0 kills per set; junior middle blocker Mackenzie Parsons leads the team at 3.16 kills per set.
LAST TIME OUT VS. CORNELL
The Big Red handed the Lions a 3-0 defeat on their home floor on Sept. 26. Elena Maynulet had a strong night for the Lions, leading Columbia with 14 kills while hitting .355. Cornell hit .412 and was led by Mackenzie Parson with 14 kills; Ava Bogan chipped in 11.
SERIES AT A GLANCE
In a series dating back to 1983, when the Columbia/Barnard Athletic Consortium began, the Lions are 14-59 against Cornell. At home, the Lions are 10-23 against the Big Red. After a 3-0 win on Sept. 26, Cornell is 9-1 against the Lions.
OPPONENT INFO
Rosters, Schedules, and Stats for all opposing teams are below.
CORNELL: Roster, Schedule, Stats
ON DECK
Columbia returns home next weekend for two Ivy League matches. They open the weekend taking on the Penn Quakers on Friday. That match is scheduled for A 6 p.m. first serve. They close the homestand hosting Princeton on Saturday. That match is slated for a 5 p.m. first serve.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
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