Columbia University’s volleyball team will begin its 2025 season by hosting the Big Apple Tournament at Levien Gymnasium. The tournament marks the 17th consecutive year that Columbia has organized this event, featuring teams from Fordham, Northeastern, and New Haven.
The Lions are scheduled to play New Haven on Friday afternoon, followed by a match against Northeastern later that evening. On Saturday, Columbia will face Fordham. In total, six matches will take place over two days, with all games available for streaming via ESPN+ and live statistics provided online.
Access to Levien Gymnasium for fans will be through the entrance on 120th Street.
This season also marks the fourth year under head coach Patric Santiago. Reflecting on last year’s performance, Santiago acknowledged that the team finished with a 4-19 overall record and placed eighth in Ivy League play. Despite being picked to finish at the bottom of the conference in this year’s preseason poll, Santiago expressed optimism about the team’s progress.
“Oh, we’re so excited to be back in our gym and show off the work that we’ve done during the preseason,” Santiago said. “Our newcomers have done a great job of integrating into our culture, and we’re really excited for our fans to see what they’re all about.”
Three new players have joined Columbia’s roster: outside hitters Lauren Farris from Southern California and Victoria Gao from Seattle, along with defensive specialist Elena Maynulet from Puerto Rico.
“They are just ballers,” Santiago said. “You know it’s always nerve-racking getting in your first college match or scrimmage, but they really stepped up and showed that they are not afraid. So I expect to see a lot of courage and a lot of joy and hopefully some kills from them this weekend!”
Columbia lost two senior attackers who contributed significantly last season but retains most of its offensive talent. Senior opposite Eva Atkins returns after recording a career-best 178 kills last year. Other seniors include Presley Liberty, Hanna Vorhies, Juliana Williamson, Ruby van der Heide, and Amanda Holsen.
“Our seniors really know what we are about,” Santiago said about this group. “We know what we’re trying to accomplish, and what it means to play Columbia volleyball, and as we continue to define that and elevate that, they’ve really taken the lead, so I’m really proud of that group. They got here together, really stuck together through a lot, and I think they are ready to see some drastic change in the program.”
Following the tournament at home, Columbia will travel for seven straight matches starting with three games at Siena College’s tournament in Loudonville, NY on September 12-13.
Information regarding rosters and schedules for Fordham (Roster | Schedule | Stats), New Haven (Roster | Schedule | Stats), and Northeastern (Roster | Schedule | Stats) is available online.
All home games as well as Ivy League contests will be streamed via ESPN+. Updates can also be found on Twitter and Instagram accounts managed by Columbia Volleyball.
