NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Leopards wrapped up the Big Apple Tournament on Saturday evening, dropping a 3-1 final to Columbia.
Five members of the Maroon and White finished the match with at least five kills. Freshman Justine Puig (10) racked up 10 spikes, while Jada Aksu (8), Grace Jamison (8), Johanna Groger (6) and Noa Kamphuis (5) all added kills of their own.
Lafayette and Columbia were deadlocked at 10 points each following the first 20 points of set one. Highlighted by scores from five different Leopards, the Maroon and White secured six of the next eight points, jumping out to a 16-12 advantage. Shortly after, Lafayette held a 19-17 lead. Starting with one of Groger's four kills in the stanza, the Leopards began to pull away with a three-point spurt (22-17). The Lions inched closer with three-straight points (22-20). Puig stopped the opponents' rally with a spike before Kamphuis and Sophia Wilson gave the Leopards a 1-0 set lead with a 25-21 win.
The second set had a similar start to the first, as both squads were knotted up at 12 points. Featuring a pair of kills from Columbia's Maria Happ, the hosts used a four-point rally to create breathing room (16-12). An Aksu kill and Kamphuis service ace stopped the Lions and brought Lafayette within two. Columbia kept the Leopards at bay, eventually pushing its lead to 20-17. Another four-point surge, featuring three service aces, brought the hosts to set point. The Leopards collected three more scores prior to Columbia's Avery Jones tying up the match, 1-1, with a kill for a 25-20 second set victory.
Columbia captured wins in sets three (25-16) and four (25-20), winning the match 3-1.Â
In the third stanza, Columbia was led by Elise Hiemstra's six kills. Of the Lions' 17 spikes, Claire Mo (8) and Clara Yu (5) assisted on 13. The hosts also claimed a .438 hitting percentage for the set. The Leopards tallied seven kills in the period, three of which came from Jamison. Defensively, libero Alyssa Chu recorded five digs, while Puig and Gracen Nutt added in four digs each.Â
The Lions' aggressiveness in the fourth set secured the match victory. Columbia totaled 15 kills to just six attack errors in 30 attempts. For Lafayette, the Maroon and White claimed 10 kills and three attack errors in 27 attempts.Â
The Leopards travel to NJIT on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. mid-week matchup.
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