NEW YORK, N.Y. – New Haven Volleyball went down south to compete in the Big Apple Tournament, hosted by Columbia University, on Friday afternoon. On Friday, the Blue & Gold earned its first win as a Division I program over Columbia University before falling to Fordham in its second game.

GAME ONE:
New Haven earned a 3-1 win as Lauren MacKellar (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Northville) notched a team-high 17 kills. The junior outside hitter also paced the team with a .500 hitting percentage. 

Caroline Johnston (Noelnsville, TN) (23) and Payton Malinoski (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) (12) each finished in double digits in assists. Malinoski also fired off five service aces, closely followed by Juli De Acharan (Sevilla, Spain/IES Nestor Almendros), who totaled four.

Kira Lynch (Dallastown, PA) and Naliah Grannell (Hamden, Conn./Hamden) were a strong presence at the net, with each finished with five block assists.

GAME TWO:
A loss in straight sets followed for the Chargers, as Grannell, MacKellar, and Kassadi Avent (Woolwich, NJ) finished in a three-way tie for the team lead with seven kills. Johnston posted another double-digit assist game, finishing with 11. Grannel also continued her strong defensive play with four block assists.

New Haven will wrap up the Big Apple Tournament tomorrow as it plays against Northeastern. First serve from the Big Apple is slated for 12:00 p.m.