Crawford and Wirth Boost Bulldogs With Double-Doubles

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- Kelly Johnson tied a career high with 22 kills in a 3-1 victory over Columbia to pace the Bulldogs to their third straight win.   

Johnson hit the 20-kill mark for the third time this season, while Kelley Wirth added 11 kills and 15 digs. Maya Midzik had 10 kills and six blocks, while Kelsey Crawford had 44 assists, 17 digs and a career-best seven kills -- including four in the fourth set.

The scores of the match were 26-24, 26-28, 25-18 and 25-23.  

"We played a very tough Columbia team tonight," Yale head coach Erin Appleman said.  "And we made plays when we had to and found a way to win."

Yale, the five-time defending Ivy League champs, improved to 7-4 overall and 2-0 in the Ivy League.  Columbia is now 3-8 and 1-1 in conference play.  

Crawford provided the early scoring in the fourth set.  She had consecutive kills to give Yale a 6-4 lead, then added an ace to extend the edge to 8-6. Johnson and Jesse Ebner teamed up on a block, then Johnson added a solo. Ebner followed with one of her three service aces to make it 13-9 and prompt a Columbia timeout. 

Midzik and Kaitlyn Gibbons used a block assist to put Yale ahead 21-19.  Kills from Crawford and Wirth, combined with two Columbia errors sealed the match. 

In the third set, Yale opened up a 16-11 lead thanks to a 8-2 run midway through the set.  Megan Rasmussen tied the set at nine, Crawford and Midzik combined in block assists to make it 14-11, next Wirth found open space with a kill and Christine Wu completed the spurt with an ace. 

Yale didn't trail the rest of the set, with Johnson delivering a smash that deflected off a defender into the stands to make it 22-15.  Johnson notched the last two points on the outside, including set point as she fell away on the swing. 

The second set featured seven ties and five lead changes - mostly down the stretch.  Midzik gave Yale a 23-20 lead with a solo block and team captain Karlee Fuller followed with an ace.  

Columbia stormed back to take the Bulldogs to set point at 25-24 before Wirth tied it with a solo block.  On the next point, Wirth and Ebner forced an error with good position at the net.  Columbia scored the next three points. 

In the first set, Johnson was a force at the net.  She finished the frame with eight kills on 12 swings including kills on her first three attempts.  Johnson broke a 13-all tie, then was followed by a kill from Wirth and an ace from Ebner.  Yale extended its lead to 18-14 and forced a Columbia timeout.   

The Lions came back to score seven of the next nine points and took a 21-20 lead.  Columbia went on to grab a 24-22 lead before the Bulldogs used some late-set dramatic points. It started with a Columbia error, followed by block assists from Midzik and Johnson.  On the next point, Midzik smashed a low Crawford set to give Yale the lead. Ebner closed out the set with another ace.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday to host Cornell at 5 p.m.

Report filed by Ernie Bertothy, Yale Sports Publicity

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