Volleyball team suffers first loss in ten games against league contender Cornell

On the verge of a program-record 10th straight win and a 10-2 start to the season, the Lions dropped Saturday’s matchup at Cornell 3-2, a disappointing loss that leaves their Ivy League record even at 1-1.

Though the Lions (9-3) defeated the Big Red (3-8, 1-1 Ivy) handily in Levien last week, they fell behind early on the road. After losing the first set 25-22 and the second 25-18, Columbia found itself fighting hard to stay in the match. On the brink of elimination with Cornell up 11-4 in the third set, the Lions needed a spark to light their attack and avoid returning home empty-handed for the first time since Sept. 3.

Fortunately, rookies Madeline Rumer and Christina Campbell notched kills, allowing the Lions to surge back and tie the set at 11. Behind blocks by junior Monique Roberts and additional kills from Campbell, the Lions won 26-24.

The fourth set followed a similar pattern. Down 14-10, the Lions rallied behind sophomore standout Megan Gaughn, freshman Alexandra Freschet, and junior Cindy Chen to take the lead 24-20 before winning with a block at the net, 25-20.

Forced to a fifth set, the match took on the appearance of an epic comeback until Cornell, down 13-12, hit three straight kills to win the set 15-13 and the match 3-2.

While the loss marks a deflating start to the Ivy League schedule, head coach Jon Wilson noted that tough losses breed better focus. “Any time you fight back this hard and lose, it is discouraging, and good teams learn to channel discouragement into greater levels of determination,” he said. This Friday, expect the Lions to rebound as they face last-ranked Harvard in Cambridge, Mass.