Penn volleyball swept Columbia 3-0 on Saturday night in New York in a match that will be remembered for its thrilling second set.
Set scores were 25-19, 34-32, and 25-18, with the second set marking the highest scoring in Penn volleyball’s history since the introduction of 25-point sets in 2008. Columbia (3-13, 0-7) had six chances to win the set, but Penn's resilience prevailed, shifting momentum decisively in its favor.
Sophomore outside hitter Zada Sanger delivered an outstanding performance, leading Penn (10-7, 4-4 Ivy) with 14 kills on 25 attempts and just one error, posting a .520 hitting percentage.
“After losing a very tight match to Cornell last night, we were all very hungry to come out with a win today,” Sanger said. “Even though Columbia hasn’t won an Ivy match yet, we were super intentional about treating this team like it was Yale or Princeton. They’re still a good team, and we have to take them seriously and respect them across the net.”
Freshman middle blocker Adell Murray nearly matched her, recording 13 kills on 19 error-free attacks, boasting a .684 hitting percentage, and adding a service ace and a block assist.
Freshman setter Emery Moore directed the offense with precision, tallying 32 assists while also chipping in five kills on 10 attempts without errors, contributing toward a .500 hitting percentage. Moore also added nine digs, three service aces, and a solo block. Freshman outside hitter Ellie Siskin extended her streak of double-digit kills to four matches, recording 10 in this contest, along with eight digs, three service aces, and a block assist.
Columbia fought hard, with outside hitters Hailee Watts and Amanda Holsen each putting down 15 kills to keep the Lions competitive, but Penn's firepower and defensive resilience proved too strong. Freshman right-side hitter Jenniya Lane also contributed to the Quakers' efforts, hitting .500 with three kills and providing four blocks.
Penn started the match strong, taking the first set 25-19 with consistent play. The second set, however, was a back-and-forth battle that Columbia pushed to the brink. After fending off six set points, Penn finally pulled through with a dramatic 34-32 win. This exhausting set paved the way for a more comfortable third set, where Penn secured the victory 25-18 to complete the sweep.
“Overall, probably not one of our cleanest matches,” coach Meredith Schamun said. “We definitely struggled in passing and first touch overall. Offensively, though, we were very good. Attacking wise, we were very strong, so we made up for some of those holes in our first touch.”
With this win, Penn improved to 10-7 overall and 4-4 in Ivy League play, while Columbia remains winless in conference action at 0-7, dropping to 3-12 overall. This marks the fourth time this season that the Quakers have split an Ivy League weekend.
“We really needed this dub tonight,” Moore said. “I’m glad we could bounce back from last night. This win is big because it makes us fourth in the Ivy and sets us far. This year, we are ready to win.”
After a week off, Penn will return to action on Nov. 1, when it travels to face Brown in Providence.
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