Volleyballers

Amidst the stress and whining of the first week of class, Columbia Volleyball killed it at the Columbia Invitational. Self-identified sports guy Ross Chapman saw it all as the team won 9/10 sets. Upcoming home games also listed.

Juniors Atlanta Moye-McLaren and Bailey Springer led the Volleyball team to a red-hot opening weekend, sweeping the Columbia Invitational by taking matches against Bucknell, Stony Brook, and Fairfield 3-0, 3-0, and 3-1.

Columbia (3-0) rolled into the Saturday night matchup against the Fairfield Stags (3-3) with some momentum, having swept two straight games under new head coach Brie Katz. When the opening buzzer sounded, the Lions wasted no time taking the lead. A pair of terrifying spikes from Moye-McLaren, still wearing a knee brace on her left leg as a result of an ACL tear from last season, led the team to a quick 5-1 lead in the first set. Strong blocking characterized the set for the Blue and White, scoring points and forcing errors from Fairfield, and Columbia claimed the first set 25-17.

From twenty minutes before game time through the middle of the third set, fans came into a Levien Gym of growing intensity. Members of the Wrestling team showed up with a large plastic owl, leading chants and supporting the team. When asked about the owl and its symbolic purpose, the first-year holding it gave a quizzical look and a matter-of-fact answer. “I hold up the owl and say ‘WHOOOOOOO,’ and everyone else says ‘CU.’” The increasingly-rowdy crowd stayed at full intensity until the end of the match.

Katarina Jovicic and SEAS student Kesi Neblett both stepped up for great attacks in the second set, showing fantastic timing and chemistry with and chief setter Jennifer Petrovich. Despite a scoring dispute and a 5-point run by Fairfield, Columbia took the second set 25-19. In the third set, First-year Carla Dibbs stepped up on the offensive side, Bailey Springer had a strong set scoring kills from the left side of the net, and Cassie Wes and Barnard rep Alex Reale combined for some amazing defensive digs, but the tenacious Stags put in some fresh legs and beat the Lions 25-21, leaving the score at 2 sets to 1.

Coach Brie Katz stacked the backcourt with Co-Captain Charlee Dyroff and Libero (defensive specialist) Cassie Wes, who staved off harsh attacks from Fairfield leaders Marilyn Peizer and Sydney Buckley. Columbia was back to their dominant form in the fourth set, and a pair of service aces from Dyroff electrified the tense atmosphere of Levien and put the Lions up 16-11. From then on, the Lions were relentless, and kills from Reale, Neblett, Springer, and Jovicic brought the team to match point and the crowd to its feet. Petrovich gave a perfect set and Moye-McLaren secured the win with one final kill.

After the match, the Volleyball team thanked the fans and went through their post-game stretches, each member receiving a high-five and a word of encouragement from Coach Katz. The team gives off a very positive atmosphere, and performs with intensity and skill. If you’re looking for a new team to get excited about, this one gets a strong recommendation. Their next home game is the Ivy League opener against Cornell on Saturday, September 27th at 2:00 p.m. The team encourages fans to wear pink in support of breast cancer research and will give out 200 free(!) pink t-shirts to early-arriving fans.

Other Lions teams also had explosive starts to the fall athletics season:

• Rhys Williams scored twice and led the Men’s Soccer team to a 3-0 rout of Big Ten powerhouse Michigan. Next home game: Tuesday, September 9th at 7:00 p.m. vs. Marist
• Field Hockey defeated La Salle 3-1 in their season opener, dominating with possession and shooting 15 times to La Salle’s 4. Next home game: Saturday, September 13th at 1:00 p.m. vs. Villanova
• Both sides of the Women’s Soccer game against Sacred Heart played stellar defense, highlighted by Columbia goalie Gabby Dubick’s double overtime jumping save. Next home game: Tuesday, September 9th at 5:00 p.m. vs. Farleigh Dickinson
• Women’s Golf finished their first 36 holes at the Bucknell Invitational in 4th place out of 14 teams, with a combine +61 score. Next event: Nittany Lion Invitational on Friday, October 3rd

Intensity, Teamwork, Effort via the athletics website.