Friday, September 4
New York, N.Y.
11:00 AM
Columbia
1-0,0-0Ivy League
3
vs
1
FDU
1-4,0-0NEC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDU | 25 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 1 |
| Columbia | 23 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Volleyball Opens 2026 With a Bang
9/4/2026 9:55:00 PM | Volleyball
Lions open the season 2-0 for the first time since 2014
NEW YORK — Columbia volleyball opened its 2026 season with a pair of four-set victories Friday at Levien Gymnasium, defeating FDU 3-1 before earning a 3-1 win over Iona. With the two victories, the Lions have opened the year 2-0 for the first time since 2014.
The Lions rallied from first-set losses in both matches, winning the final three sets against each opponent. Columbia hit .220 against FDU and .226 against Iona while combining for 116 kills, 29 blocks and 129 digs across the two matches. Sophomore Elena Maynulet led the Lions with 29 kills on the day; she also added 25 digs. A trio of first-years had stellar debuts for Columbia, led by Elise Hiemstra, who had a match-high 19 kills in her debut against Iona in the nightcap. Alexia Cornea had nine kills, and setter Claire Mo had 34 assists and 19 digs.
In the opener against FDU (1-4), Columbia fell behind early, with the Knights taking the opening set 25-23. FDU controlled the middle portion of the opening set, building a 17-13 advantage before Columbia battled back. The Lions pulled within one at 23-22 and again at 24-23, but FDU closed out the set.
Columbia responded with its strongest offensive set of the match, recording 19 kills while hitting .250. The Lions gradually separated from FDU and held on for a 25-20 win to even the match.
In the third set, the Lions overcame a slower offensive start, hitting .031, but their defense and blocking helped Columbia take control. Columbia finished with 11.5 blocks for the match and held FDU to a negative attack percentage in the third set. The Lions won 25-20.
In the fourth set, the two sides traded barbs, with the Knights tying the set up at 11. A kill by Maynulet gave the Lions the lead for good, and they never looked back, winning five of the next six points. A kill by Josie Zynczak and a solo block by Avery Jones all but sealed the match for Columbia, who went on to win the set 25-21.
Maynulet led Columbia with 18 kills against FDU, while Maria Happ added 10 kills on 18 attacks with one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Jones recorded nine kills and four total blocks, and Clara Yu finished with 27 assists and four service aces. Cornea added nine kills on 28 swings.
In the nightcap, the Lions fell behind quickly. Iona (2-3) came out strong and cruised to a lopsided 25-17 win in the first. The Gaels six service aces helped set the tone.
As they did in the previous match, the Lions answered immediately, opening the set with a 2-0 lead and building a 7-2 advantage. The Lions continued to extend the margin, using five service aces - two from Madison Hsieh and Mo each - to take the set 25-15. Defensively, the Lions limited the Gaels to just five kills in the set, while hitting into seven attack errors.
Columbia took control with a more efficient attack, recording 15 kills against five errors and hitting .278. The Lions pulled away late to win 25-19 and move within one set of the match. Hiemstra led the way with five kills on 10 swings.
The Lions closed it out in the fourth, notching 17 kills and hitting a blistering .361. Hiemstra led the way with seven kills; Maynulet added four.
Hiemstra paced Columbia against Iona with 19 kills on 39 attacks, hitting .410. Maynulet added 11 kills and 14 digs for her first double-double of the year. Gravlee had seven kills and five block assists. Clara Yu totaled 25 assists, and Delaney Seaman contributed 15 digs.
The Lions return to action on Saturday evening when they take on Lafayette in the finale of the Big Apple Tournament. That match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE LIONS
For the latest on Columbia volleyball, follow @CULionsVB on Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
The Lions rallied from first-set losses in both matches, winning the final three sets against each opponent. Columbia hit .220 against FDU and .226 against Iona while combining for 116 kills, 29 blocks and 129 digs across the two matches. Sophomore Elena Maynulet led the Lions with 29 kills on the day; she also added 25 digs. A trio of first-years had stellar debuts for Columbia, led by Elise Hiemstra, who had a match-high 19 kills in her debut against Iona in the nightcap. Alexia Cornea had nine kills, and setter Claire Mo had 34 assists and 19 digs.
In the opener against FDU (1-4), Columbia fell behind early, with the Knights taking the opening set 25-23. FDU controlled the middle portion of the opening set, building a 17-13 advantage before Columbia battled back. The Lions pulled within one at 23-22 and again at 24-23, but FDU closed out the set.
Columbia responded with its strongest offensive set of the match, recording 19 kills while hitting .250. The Lions gradually separated from FDU and held on for a 25-20 win to even the match.
In the third set, the Lions overcame a slower offensive start, hitting .031, but their defense and blocking helped Columbia take control. Columbia finished with 11.5 blocks for the match and held FDU to a negative attack percentage in the third set. The Lions won 25-20.
In the fourth set, the two sides traded barbs, with the Knights tying the set up at 11. A kill by Maynulet gave the Lions the lead for good, and they never looked back, winning five of the next six points. A kill by Josie Zynczak and a solo block by Avery Jones all but sealed the match for Columbia, who went on to win the set 25-21.
Maynulet led Columbia with 18 kills against FDU, while Maria Happ added 10 kills on 18 attacks with one error for a .500 hitting percentage. Jones recorded nine kills and four total blocks, and Clara Yu finished with 27 assists and four service aces. Cornea added nine kills on 28 swings.
In the nightcap, the Lions fell behind quickly. Iona (2-3) came out strong and cruised to a lopsided 25-17 win in the first. The Gaels six service aces helped set the tone.
As they did in the previous match, the Lions answered immediately, opening the set with a 2-0 lead and building a 7-2 advantage. The Lions continued to extend the margin, using five service aces - two from Madison Hsieh and Mo each - to take the set 25-15. Defensively, the Lions limited the Gaels to just five kills in the set, while hitting into seven attack errors.
Columbia took control with a more efficient attack, recording 15 kills against five errors and hitting .278. The Lions pulled away late to win 25-19 and move within one set of the match. Hiemstra led the way with five kills on 10 swings.
The Lions closed it out in the fourth, notching 17 kills and hitting a blistering .361. Hiemstra led the way with seven kills; Maynulet added four.
Hiemstra paced Columbia against Iona with 19 kills on 39 attacks, hitting .410. Maynulet added 11 kills and 14 digs for her first double-double of the year. Gravlee had seven kills and five block assists. Clara Yu totaled 25 assists, and Delaney Seaman contributed 15 digs.
The Lions return to action on Saturday evening when they take on Lafayette in the finale of the Big Apple Tournament. That match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.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
MB
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
DS/L
/ Volleyball
OPP
/ Volleyball
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
DS/S
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
OH
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
FDU
CU
Kills
44
58
Errors
27
25
Attempts
149
150
Hitting %
.114
.220
Points
61.5
75.0
Assists
39
55
Aces
6
6
Blocks
11.5
11
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
6
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Friday, September 04
Thursday, September 03
Saturday, November 08
Friday, October 10
