COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Cougar Athletic Department is honored to introduce the inductees of the 24th class of the Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame.
This year's induction ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, in New Hall Event Center. The celebration will feature Jordan Alford '20 (Women's Basketball), Peiyi Liu '18 (Volleyball) and the 2016 Women's Soccer Team. Liu will be accepting her award virtually.
"I'm so excited to recognize this year's Hall of Fame class!" says Drew Grzella, associate director of Athletics. "The individual and collective success for this year's group is unmatched. A first-team All-American, a national player of the year and a trailblazing team will make for another incredible event!"
Tickets for the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony are on sale now; please visit ColumbiaCougars.com/Tickets and click on "Special Events" to register.
Meet the CC Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2026:
Jordan Alford '20 (Women's Basketball)
Jordan Alford, a native of Thayer, Missouri, is one of the most accomplished and versatile playmakers in the history of Columbia College Women's Basketball.
Alford made an immediate impact as a transfer freshman, averaging 14.5 points per game and showcasing a scoring ability that would define her career. Even though her first season with the Cougars ended early due to injury, fans and teammates saw a glimpse of what was to come. Jordan didn't miss a beat during her sophomore season. She played in and started all 34 games that year – the only Cougar to do so. On Jan. 4, 2018, Alford displayed her clutch ability by scoring 18 of her 29 points in the second half to beat 13th-ranked Lyon College. During the 2018-19 season, Alford helped the program earn its first No. 1 national ranking following a victory over previously top-ranked Freed-Hardeman in Southwell. In that contest, she played all 40 minutes and was lethal behind the arc, going 4 of 5. Alford had a stellar senior season; she finished second on the team in scoring, rebounding and 3-point shooting, while leading the team in assists. In her final collegiate game, Jordan scored 21 points, collected 8 rebounds and dished out 5 assists against Freed-Hardeman. Her star always shined the brightest in the biggest games.
Alford finished her career with 1,330 points, 581 rebounds, 374 assists and 200 steals while starting 109 of 111 games. Her versatility as a point guard placed her among the program's all-time leaders in nearly every major statistical category. She currently ranks fifth in 3-point field goals made (225), seventh in assists, eighth in steals, 11th in scoring and 12th in rebounds. Her combination of scoring, playmaking, rebounding and timely defense remains one of the most balanced resumes in school history. Her 225 career 3-pointers and 38.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc made her one of the most dangerous shooters in program history.
Alford's individual accolades were equally impressive. She was recognized as an NAIA All-American as a sophomore (third team), junior (first team) and senior (third team). She is one of five players in program history to be a three-time All American and still remains the only women's basketball player to earn first-team honors (2018-19). Her four-year record with the Cougars was an impressive 108-25, as she served as cornerstone of one of the winningest eras in Columbia College Women's Basketball.
Whether knocking down clutch 3-pointers, creating opportunities for teammates or making key defensive plays, Alford consistently delivered in the biggest moments and set a standard for future generations of Cougar basketball players. For her outstanding career achievements, lasting impact on the women's basketball program and role in one of the most successful periods in school history, Jordan Alford is a deserving member of the 2026 Columbia College Athletic Hall of Fame Class.
Peiyi Liu '18 (Volleyball)
Few student-athletes have impacted Columbia College Athletics as profoundly as Peiyi Liu. A native of Nanjing, China, Liu arrived at Columbia College in 2015 after spending one year at Missouri State University–West Plains. The 6-foot-3 lefty immediately established herself as one of the most complete and versatile pin hitters in the country.
Her first year as a Cougar culminated with Columbia College capturing the 2015 NAIA National Championship, the program's fourth national title. The team finished the season with a 33-7 overall record, winning 13 straight matches to end the year. Throughout that championship run, Liu emerged as the Cougars' go-to offensive weapon and one of the tournament's most impactful performers. In in the dramatic five-set quarterfinal victory over Biola University, Liu recorded a double-double with 25 kills and 11 digs. The following day, she dominated the national semifinal with 20 kills to propel Columbia into the championship match, marking the program's ninth appearance in a national title contest.
On the sport's biggest stage, Liu once again rose to the occasion. In the national championship match against American Midwest Conference rival Missouri Baptist University, she led all players with 12 kills while adding three blocks as Columbia secured a straight-set victory to claim the national title. For her efforts, she was named first-team All-American, NAIA Tournament MVP and the NAIA National Player of the Year. She finished the season with 601 kills (fourth-highest total in the NAIA) and a .408 hitting percentage (second in the NAIA).
During the 2016 season, Liu developed into one of the most feared attackers in the NAIA, earning back-to-back NAIA first-team All-America honors. Her ability to dominate against top competition became a hallmark and featured signature performances against nationally ranked teams, including a 27-kill effort against Georgetown College and a 22-dig performance against Lourdes University. That same year, she recorded one of the finest individual seasons in Columbia College history, ranking among the national leaders in kills per set, hitting percentage and kills, finishing with 622 kills – one of the highest single-season totals in program history.
Throughout her career, Liu combined elite power, remarkable consistency and a competitive drive that elevated everyone around her. Whether delivering clutch kills in championship matches, carrying the offensive load against nationally ranked opponents, or serving as a leader for younger teammates, she consistently showed that Success Is No Accident.
2016 Columbia College Women's Soccer Team
The 2016 Columbia College Women's Soccer Team authored one of the most memorable seasons in program history. Through a combination of dominant defense, explosive offense and a competitive spirit, the Cougars compiled a 19-2-3 record, setting a standard of excellence that remains a hallmark of Cougar Women's Soccer.
In only the program's fifth season of competition, the 2016 squad emerged as one of the premier teams in the NAIA. Columbia College overwhelmed opponents throughout the season, outscoring its competition by a mark of 95-10 as the Cougars combined a high-powered attack with one of the nation's stingiest defenses. The team's success was built upon a talented roster that featured six first-team All-AMC members: Laurie Frew, Taylor Hagenhoff, Kelsey Mirts, Jordan Poire, Tiffany Weaver and goalkeeper Flavia Rosado. Mirts, who scored a team-high 15 goals, was recognized as the AMC Freshman of the Year after an outstanding debut season.
On Sept. 1, Columbia hosted fifth-ranked Mobile University in an early-season test. After 90 minutes of action, the two teams were scoreless. In the 94th minute, Frew, a junior forward, struck a ball from 38 yards out that found the corner of the net for the game-winner. The ensuing celebration would serve as a springboard to what was to come. Columbia rolled through the rest of its regular season with an impressive record of 15-1-2. Fourteen of those 15 wins came in shutout fashion. The Cougars' only loss of the regular season came on Sept. 28 at conference rival Park University. A rematch in the AMC Tournament was inevitable.
The Cougars entered postseason play in dominant form, winning seven straight matches by a margin of 40-0. They defeated Lyon and Missouri Baptist in the AMC quarterfinal and semifinal contests, respectively, to set up a rematch with Park that Columbia had been hoping for. CC defeated Park 3-0 in Parkville, Missouri, behind goals from Molly Klein, Lucy Kingsley and Mirts – all freshmen – to claim the AMC Tournament title. The victory over Park extended Columbia's shutout streak to 10 consecutive matches and secured the Cougars an automatic berth into the NAIA National Tournament.
What followed was a historic postseason run that elevated the 2016 squad into Columbia College lore. Hosting an NAIA Opening Round match, the Cougars defeated Kansas Wesleyan University 2-0 behind a pair of second-half goals from Klein, earning the program's first-ever trip to the NAIA National Tournament final site in Orange Beach, Alabama.
In the NAIA Tournament's Round of 16, Columbia was paired up against perennial powerhouse Lindsey Wilson College, the fourth-ranked team in the final poll and the second-seeded team in the event. Mirts scored in the sixth minute, followed by an amazing midfield strike from Yuko Shinomiya just before halftime to take a 2-0 lead into the break. The Cougars held off a late push from Lindsey Wilson and ended regulation tied at 2. Neither team scored in the overtime periods, which led to one of the most dramatic endings in Cougar history. Following back-to-back saves by Rosado in penalty kicks, defender Katie Tambke netted the game-winning strike. The victory sent Columbia into the national quarterfinals and cemented the team's place among the elite programs in the country.
The Cougars' magical run concluded in the quarterfinals against the eventual national champion, University of Northwestern Ohio. Although the Cougars fell, they finished the season as the eighth-ranked team in the country, the highest ranking in program history. Following the season, goalkeeper Rosado was recognized as an honorable mention All-American, becoming just the third player in program history receive that honor.
The 2016 team's accomplishments extended beyond wins and championships. Their quality of play, work ethic and joy of playing together set the foundation for the powerhouse that Columbia College Women's Soccer has become.
