HAMILTON, N.Y. (11/12/2005)—The Colgate University volleyball team had three players with double-digit kills, but it was not quite enough as visiting Bucknell nipped the Raiders 3-2, on senior day on Cotterell Court. Freshman Katrina Zawojski (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) led the way with a match-high 27 kills.

Bucknell heads to the Patriot League Tournament as the fourth seed after squeaking past the Raiders 30-21, 27-30, 27-30, 30-17, and 16-14.

Seniors Allie Nichols (Sacramento, Calif./Sacramento) and Meghaan Walsh (Walnut Creek, Calif./Carondelet) both closed out their careers with strong performances. Nichols finished with a double-double on 46 assists and 11 digs and added five kills, while Walsh made a season-high 10 digs.

Sophomores Erin Kanetzke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) and Sheila Giovannini (Waltham, Mass./Arlington Catholic) were outstanding for the Raiders. Kanetzke matched her career-high of 12 kills and had a team-best five blocks, while Giovannini had 10 kills. Freshman Jackie Adlam (Marin, Calif./Marin Academy) posted a match-high 31 digs, her fifth match with at least 30 digs.

With the match knotted at two games apiece, the Bison and Raiders traded points throughout the decisive fifth match. Colgate jumped ahead 6-3 in the early going, but Bucknell responded with a 7-3 run to go ahead 10-9. Zawojski and Nichols landed consecutive kills to go back in front 11-10. The Bison tallied the next two points to regain a one-point advantage, 12-11, but the two squads continued to battle back and forth.

Junior Marybeth Maziarz (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug Regional) fired in a kill to give Colgate a 14-12 lead, but it was all Bucknell after that as they closed the match with a 4-0 run.

The Bison used a 13-3 run midway through the first game to take a six-point lead, 23-17, never looking back to earn the 30-21 victory.

Colgate came out playing strong defense in the second game, holding Bucknell to a .107 hitting percentage. Bucknell rallied from a 16-11 deficit to take a 26-22 lead, but the Raiders would not be denied, winning the game on an 8-1 streak.

In the third game of the match, Colgate jumped ahead in the early going, 10-7, and never let up, earning an identical 30-27 victory. The Raiders hit for a .342 hitting percentage, finishing with 17 kills and held the Bison to a .200 hitting percentage.

Bucknell (17-13, 9-5 PL) controlled the fourth game from the first serve to force the nail-biter fifth game. The Bison defense kept the Colgate attack at bay, holding the host Raiders to a .057 hitting percentage.

Sarah Groman and Jenna Henderson paced the Bucknell attack with 16 kills apiece, while Jennie Smith added 14. Chelsea Anderson recorded a team-best 25 digs and Groman was a force at the net with a match-high seven total blocks. Shannon Pitsch had a team-best 38 assists.

The Raiders close out the 2005 season with a 7-20 overall record and 6-8 mark in Patriot League play.