Bobcats Close Columbia Invitational With Sweep Over Lions

Saturday, September 2

New York, NY

7:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

2-4,0-0MAAC

Columbia

0-3,0-0Ivy League

Quinnipiac

Columbia

Photo by: Ephemia Nicolakis

Bobcats Close Columbia Invitational With Sweep Over Lions

9/2/2023 8:48:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

By: QU Athletic Communications

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Leilani-kai Giusta tied her career-high in kills and Yagmur Gunes recorded her third consecutive double-double to lead Quinnipiac past Columbia in a sweep to close the Columbia Invitational on Schiller Court inside of Lebien Gymnasium Saturday evening.

Giusta led the match with 16 kills, while Yagmur Gunes added 12 kills, 12 digs and five service aces. Damla Gunes notched 31 assists and seven digs, while Alexandra Tennon contributed 12 kills of her own.

With the victory, Quinnipiac improved to 2-4 in the early campaign, while Columbia fell to 0-3 to begin its season.

LOCATION
Lebien Gymnasium | New York, N.Y.

Records
Quinnipiac Bobcats (2-4) | Columbia (1-2)

Quinnipiac 3, Columbia 0

SET ONE (25-19, Quinnipiac)
The Bobcats got off to a hot start, jumping out to a 9-5 lead behind two kills apiece from Alexandra Tennon, Leilani-kai Giusta and Yagmur Gunes, forcing a Columbia timeout. The Bobcats pushed their lead up to 14-7 off the back of back-to-back kills from Giusta before extending the lead to 16-10.

Quinnipiac pushed the lead to 18-11 before Columbia burned its final timeout of the set. The lead proved to be too much for Columbia, as the Bobcats held on for the 25-9 set victory.

SET TWO (25-17)
The two sides traded points to a 7-7 tie before a 3-0 run capped by a Giusta service ace pushed QU ahead 10-7. However, Columbia responded with a 4-0 run to go ahead 11-10, forcing a Quinnipiac timeout. Out of the break, QU went on a 4-2 run, forcing a Columbia timeout with the Bobcats ahead, 14-13.

Out of the timeout, Quinnpiac stayed hot and went on a 7-1 run, capped by three consecutive service aces from Yagmur Gunes to force a Columbia timeout with QU ahead 21-14. The lead proved to be too much for the Lions as QU held on for the 25-17 set win.

SET THREE (25-20)
Quinnipiac crept out to an early 4-3 lead before Columbia called a timeout. Out of the break, the Bobcats slowly extended their lead to 17-12 before Columbia halted the run with four consecutive points to force a QU timeout up 17-16.

The two sides traded points to a 19-19 tie before Quinnipiac rattled off four straight points behind a kill apiece from Lexi Morse and Tennon, followed by consecutive Columbia attack errors to push ahead 23-19. Holding match point, Aryanah Diaz secured the Quinnipiac win with a service ace.

NOTES:

Giusta led the match with 16 kills and added five digs and three assists
Yagmur Gunes contributed 12 kills, 12 digs and five service aces
It marked the third double-double of the season for Yagmur Gunes and sixth of her career
Yagmur Gunes has recorded a double-double in three consecutive contests
Damla Gunes recorded a match-high 31 assists in the contest
Tennon added 12 kills and five digs of her own in the victory

NEXT UP
The Bobcats will be back in action on Friday, Sept. 8, when they open play at the Henson Hawk Classic, as they will take on Gardner-Webb at 10 a.m., followed by Hampton at 2 p.m.

FOLLOW US
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