Volleyball beats rival Cornell, off to best start since 2000

In its best start to the season since 2000, the Columbia women’s volleyball team (9-4, 1-0 Ivy) picked up its ninth and 10th wins of the season against Cornell and Hartford at the Columbia Tri-Match.

Saturday’s 3-0 defeat of Cornell was the first Ivy win for second-year head coach Jon Wilson, the first for the volleyball program since 2006, and the first time the Light Blue beat the Big Red since 2001.

Cornell took the lead at the start of match one on the first of nine Columbia service errors. But the Lions never let up, and the score was tied eight times before the Light Blue emerged victorious, 25-20. A kill by sophomore Monique Roberts put the Lions up 10-9, and from there the Light Blue would not relinquish the lead. With a service ace from Megan Gaughn, third in the conference for kills, the Lions advanced to their biggest lead of the game, 17-11. Though the Big Red would close the gap to three, a kill from Roberts and a Cornell attack error gave Columbia the set and the momentum.

The second set was the closest of the matchup, with Cornell up 24-21 and ready to win at set point. The score was tied 17 times, and the lead changed hands seven. Back-to-back kills by Gaughn saved the Lions from the loss and tied the score at 24. But Cornell would not give up easily, and went ahead 25-24 with a kill from Juliana Roberts. Columbia then tied it up again before an ace from Gaughn and two errors by Cornell sealed the win for the Lions, 28-26.

It seemed that the Lions had plenty of momentum to take them through an easy third set, but after Columbia led by as much as six, Cornell went on a 6-1 run to bring the score to 19-17, and then tied it at 22 apiece. But kills by Gaughn and freshmen Erin Longinotti and Kelsey Musselman gave Columbia the set, 27-25, and the match, 3-0.

The conference matchup saw 32 tied scores and 11 lead changes before its finish. Gaughn led the match on both sides of the court with a double-double, hitting 20 kills and posting 12 digs.

Saturday’s success continued for the Lions as they went on to defeat Hartford 3-1 in the evening.

The Hawks took the lead early in set one on a Lion attack error. But Wilson called a timeout, and when the Lions returned to the court they were back in their comfort zone. A kill from Gaughn began a Light Blue rally that would culminate in a 10-10 tied score. Junior Sarah Thompson put the Light Blue up 11-10, and with Martina Kajanova serving, the Lions went on a 6-0 run. Columbia eventually took the win, 25-19, on two Hartford attack errors.
Set two became a nail-biter after the Lions put the score at 11-5 with a 6-1 run and Musselman serving. The Light Blue built its lead to 18-13 before the Hawks began to rally. With two Columbia attack errors and a kill, the Hawks tied the score at 20. The Lions would lead twice more, but after seven different tied scores, Hartford defeated Columbia, 25-23, and tied the match at 1-1.

Columbia took off in set four after tying the score at six. With senior Ellie Thomas serving, the Lions went up for good at 10-6 before taking the game, 25-18.
The Lions were ready to put set four and their second match of the day away. Another kill by Gaughn was just what the Light Blue needed, and got, to open up its last set of the night. Kills by Gaughn and Roberts, Hartford attack errors, and a 6-0 run put the Lions up 19-10. From there, Columbia was easily able to notch the game, 25-13, and the match, 3-1.

Gaughn was a force to be reckoned with, leading both teams once again with 17 kills and 14 digs, picking up her second double-double of the day. Thompson had 10 kills and four digs, while Kajanova and Thomas had 15 and 13 digs, respectively.

The Lions return to the court on Saturday, Oct. 3, as Cornell will attempt to exact revenge in a rematch in Ithaca.