Volleyball Tames Columbia In Straight Sets To Close Out Nonconference Action

Tuesday, September 23

6:00 PM

Rutgers University

9-3,0-0Big Ten

Columbia

2-8,0-0Ivy League

Columbia

Rutgers

Photo by: Lovens Lormilus

Volleyball Tames Columbia In Straight Sets To Close Out Nonconference Action

Sep 23 | Women's Volleyball

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. – It was a sweep way for Rutgers volleyball to end its 2025 nonconference slate on Tuesday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.

The Scarlet Knights rolled over Columbia, 25-8, 25-14, 25-16 to improve their mark to 9-3 overall in their seventh sweep of the season.

Columbia, who also wrapped up its nonconference schedule, fell to 2-8 on the year.

Volleyball Columbia victory graphic featuring Zora Hardison and Tara Garvey

STANDOUT STATS

Rutgers hit over .400 for the second time this season by hitting .419 and racked up 11 aces and 20 blocks.
Sophomore Aspen Maxwell was once again the leader on the attack, amassing 13 kills, swinging at a .455 clip, to go along with three aces, three digs and a career-high six blocks.
Senior Tara Garvey was also in double-digit kills with 12 kills on 22 swings to hit .500. She also added a career-high five digs.
Senior Lexi Visintine joined Maxwell with a trio of aces, upping her season mark to 24 to lead the Big Ten.
The Scarlet Knights add assists on all but one of its 43 kills on the evening with sophomore Lily Bolen recording 30 helpers.
At the net, junior Zora Hardison joined Maxwell as the leader on the block with six stops.
Sophomore Alleigh Dutton posted a game-high 12 digs and added a pair of aces.

KEY MOMENTS

SET 1 (25-8) | The tone was set early as the Lions called time after three Scarlet Knight swings led to three points and RU rattled off the match's first four points. RU never trailed and hit .452 with 16 kills on 31 attacks with only two errors and Tara Garvey poured in six kills on eight swings. Meanwhile, the defense totaled eight blocks as Zora Hardison made three stops. Columbia, meanwhile, was limited to only four kills while committing five errors and hit -.040.

S1 | Dynamic Duo 👭#GoRU ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/GG3YbyesqP
— Rutgers Volleyball (@RUvball) September 23, 2025

SET 2 (25-14) | Columbia led 10-9, but from there it was all Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights rattled off five unanswered to take control and finished the frame swinging .500 with only one error on the attack. RU had kills from seven different Scarlet Knights with Aspen Maxwell leading the way with four kills, three aces and three blocks.

S2 | What's better than ☝️ Aspen ace? How 'bout ✌️!#GoRU ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/2rzI7hwM17
— Rutgers Volleyball (@RUvball) September 23, 2025

SET 3 (25-16) | Tied at 9-9, the Scarlet Knights scored five straight and never looked back. After the Lions stopped the bleeding, RU proceeded to outscore Columbia, 7-2, capped by Avery Jesewtiz and Natalie Robinson teaming up at the net to put the Scarlet Knights up 21-12. Lexi Visintine and Alleigh Dutton served up a pair of aces and Maxwell dropped in another four kills.

S3 | Good Knight 🌜#GoRU ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/x2Kr4R1JNr
— Rutgers Volleyball (@RUvball) September 23, 2025

UP NEXT

Rutgers volleyball kicks off Big Ten play next with a pair of road games. The Scarlet Knights will meet No. 7 Wisconsin on Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m. (ET) and No. 12 Minnesota on Sunday, Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. (ET). Both games will be streamed by B1G+.

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