Fordham

At the beginning of the season, Joe Jones emphasized that an improved perimeter defense would allow the Lions to contend for an Ivy League title, and improve on last season’s 16-12 overall record.

Joe Jones has been criticized in the past for his soft nonconference schedules, padding a pre-Ivy record that was often misleading. His team won’t have that problem this year.

The Columbia volleyball team continued its recent slide with a three-set defeat at the hands of city rival Fordham last night. The Lions fell to the Rams 30-19, 30-26, 30-22 at the Rose Hill Gym, and this is their 10th loss in a row.

A combination of outstanding athletes and a unique scheme helped Columbia excel defensively last season. Opposing offenses were consistently caught off guard by the Lions’ ability to hide their alignment until right before the snap. In Saturday’s game, however, Fordham showed that, armed with a game of experience, it could cope with the Lions’ 3-3-5 defense.

The Liberty Cup changed hands on Saturday night, as Columbia fell to Fordham, 27-10, at Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx.