Friday, September 18
Fort Wayne, Ind.
10:00 AM
Columbia
5-2,0-0Ivy League
1
at
3
Purdue Fort Wayne
5-6,0-0Horizon
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | 11 | 13 | 25 | 18 | 1 |
| Purdue Fort Wayne | 25 | 25 | 19 | 25 | 3 |
Volleyball Drops a Pair to Open Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational
9/18/2026 7:06:00 PM | Volleyball
Elena Maynulet’s career night not enough as Indiana State rallies back in nightcap
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Columbia women's volleyball team dropped a pair of contests to open the Purdue Fort Wayne Invitational on Friday at the Gates Sports Center. Columbia opened the tournament falling to hosts Purdue Fort Wayne 3-1 (11-25, 13-25, 25-19, 18-25) before dropping a heartbreaker in five to Indiana State (25-17, 27-25, 23-25, 27-29, 11-15).
Match One Recap
In the opener, Columbia struggled to establish its attack early, hitting -0.152 in the opening set. Early attack errors put the Lions behind quickly as Purdue Fort Wayne built a 10-5 lead. Cornea provided brief offense with four kills in the set, but a 5-0 run by the Mastodons put the set out of reach, 25-11 in favor of the hosts.
The Lions' offense picked up with kills from Maynulet and Charlotte Gravlee, but reception errors allowed Purdue Fort Wayne to go on an 8-1 run midway through the frame to stretch the lead to 20-6. Late kills by Cornea and Avery Jones rallied Columbia late, but the deficit proved too large. The Mastodons were lethal from the serve, recording seven aces in the frame.
Columbia found its rhythm in the third, hitting .400 as a team. Mo served up an early ace, while Maynulet delivered four kills to build a 9-4 advantage. Up 17-14, the Lions pulled away with a late 6-1 run highlighted by sequential kills from Gravlee, Maynulet, and Dahlia Roberts. Roberts capped the set win with a kill off a Yu set.
In the fourth and final set, Columbia traded points early and took a 6-5 lead after an active block effort by Nordlicht and Maynulet. However, Purdue Fort Wayne responded with a 7-0 run to take control at 12-6. Blocks by Nordlicht, Roberts, and Gravlee helped Columbia fight back to within four at 23-18, but the Mastodons closed out the match with consecutive points.
Riley Rosneck's match-high 13 kills led Purdue Fort Wayne (5-6). Haiden Means had 39 assists.
Match Two Recap
Maynulet powered the Lions with a team-high 19 kills and 11 digs for her third double-double of the season and 12th of her career. Cornea added 14 kills. Nordlicht anchored the defense at the net, tallying seven blocks.
Columbia jumped out early behind strong serving from Maynulet, who logged a service ace to spark a 5-1 opening run. Madison Hsieh stretched the lead with an ace of her own. Maynulet dominated the floor, closing the set with back-to-back kills off passes from Clara Yu and Delaney Seaman to secure the opening win.
The second frame featured tight, back-and-forth action. Late in the set, kills from Cornea and Maynulet pushed Columbia ahead 22-21. Indiana State held off set point to tie it at 25-25, but a huge kill by Nordlicht sealed the extra-points victory for the Lions.
Indiana State began its comeback in the third. Columbia fought back from an early deficit when Hsieh served up an ace to cap a four-point run, making it 13-9. Cornea added key late kills to keep the Lions close at 20-19. However, Indiana State pulled ahead late to take the frame.
In the fourth, Columbia erased a late deficit, stringing together points behind a Maynulet service ace and blocks from Nordlicht and Cornea to earn set point at 24-23. Indiana State repeatedly answered in extra points before surviving a 29-27 battle to force a deciding set.
In the final set, Columbia pulled within one at 8-7 following a solo block by Nordlicht and a kill from Josie Zynczak. Indiana State responded with a 3-0 push to take control and closed out the match.
Indiana State (5-5) had four players finish in double figures in kills. Kira Holland led the Sycamores with 18 kills. She also had 13 digs for a double-double.
The Lions return to action on Saturday morning when they battle Stonehill. First serve between the Lions and the Skyhawks is scheduled for 11 a.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Elena Maynulet was tremendous, finishing with 29 kills, 19 digs, and three aces. She notched a career-high 19 kills in the loss to the Sycamores. Alexia Cornea finished with 24 kills while hitting .284. Danica Nordlicht had 12 blocks. Clara Yu and Claire Mo split setting duties for Columbia (5-3), with Yu notching 40 assists and 25 digs. Mo had 33 assists and 12 digs.
Match One Recap
In the opener, Columbia struggled to establish its attack early, hitting -0.152 in the opening set. Early attack errors put the Lions behind quickly as Purdue Fort Wayne built a 10-5 lead. Cornea provided brief offense with four kills in the set, but a 5-0 run by the Mastodons put the set out of reach, 25-11 in favor of the hosts.
The Lions' offense picked up with kills from Maynulet and Charlotte Gravlee, but reception errors allowed Purdue Fort Wayne to go on an 8-1 run midway through the frame to stretch the lead to 20-6. Late kills by Cornea and Avery Jones rallied Columbia late, but the deficit proved too large. The Mastodons were lethal from the serve, recording seven aces in the frame.
Columbia found its rhythm in the third, hitting .400 as a team. Mo served up an early ace, while Maynulet delivered four kills to build a 9-4 advantage. Up 17-14, the Lions pulled away with a late 6-1 run highlighted by sequential kills from Gravlee, Maynulet, and Dahlia Roberts. Roberts capped the set win with a kill off a Yu set.
In the fourth and final set, Columbia traded points early and took a 6-5 lead after an active block effort by Nordlicht and Maynulet. However, Purdue Fort Wayne responded with a 7-0 run to take control at 12-6. Blocks by Nordlicht, Roberts, and Gravlee helped Columbia fight back to within four at 23-18, but the Mastodons closed out the match with consecutive points.
Riley Rosneck's match-high 13 kills led Purdue Fort Wayne (5-6). Haiden Means had 39 assists.
Match Two Recap
Maynulet powered the Lions with a team-high 19 kills and 11 digs for her third double-double of the season and 12th of her career. Cornea added 14 kills. Nordlicht anchored the defense at the net, tallying seven blocks.
Columbia jumped out early behind strong serving from Maynulet, who logged a service ace to spark a 5-1 opening run. Madison Hsieh stretched the lead with an ace of her own. Maynulet dominated the floor, closing the set with back-to-back kills off passes from Clara Yu and Delaney Seaman to secure the opening win.
The second frame featured tight, back-and-forth action. Late in the set, kills from Cornea and Maynulet pushed Columbia ahead 22-21. Indiana State held off set point to tie it at 25-25, but a huge kill by Nordlicht sealed the extra-points victory for the Lions.
Indiana State began its comeback in the third. Columbia fought back from an early deficit when Hsieh served up an ace to cap a four-point run, making it 13-9. Cornea added key late kills to keep the Lions close at 20-19. However, Indiana State pulled ahead late to take the frame.
In the fourth, Columbia erased a late deficit, stringing together points behind a Maynulet service ace and blocks from Nordlicht and Cornea to earn set point at 24-23. Indiana State repeatedly answered in extra points before surviving a 29-27 battle to force a deciding set.
In the final set, Columbia pulled within one at 8-7 following a solo block by Nordlicht and a kill from Josie Zynczak. Indiana State responded with a 3-0 push to take control and closed out the match.
Indiana State (5-5) had four players finish in double figures in kills. Kira Holland led the Sycamores with 18 kills. She also had 13 digs for a double-double.
The Lions return to action on Saturday morning when they battle Stonehill. First serve between the Lions and the Skyhawks is scheduled for 11 a.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
MB
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
DS/S
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
CU
Pur-FW
Kills
39
52
Errors
21
17
Attempts
111
111
Hitting %
.162
.315
Points
54.0
75.0
Assists
37
50
Aces
6
14
Blocks
9
9
Game Leaders
Kills
10
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
0
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
3
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