Colgate Volleyball Downs Bucknell

Dougherty and Colligan combined for nine blocks in the victory over the Bison

HAMILTON, N.Y. (10/9/09) – Kaleigh Durket (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) led three Colgate players with double figured kill totals as the Raiders downed visiting Bucknell 25-20, 25-16, 24-26, 25-13 in a Patriot League clash between travel partners, Friday evening at Cotterell Court.

Durket pounded down a match-high 16 kills, while Casey Ritt (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Kaylee Dougherty (Landisville, Pa.) added 13 and 12 respectively as the Raiders improved to 7-10 overall and more importantly 4-1 in league action. Bucknell fell to 6-11, 2-3 in Patriot League play.

“I thought we were really aggressive offensively all night,” said Colgate head coach Ryan Baker. “Our setters did a super job spreading out the attack. None of that would have been possible if not for the passing of Devon Applegate and Logan Keala.”\

In the opening game, Colgate took the lead for good at 14-13 on a kill by Durket. The advantage would grow to a comfortable four-point lead at 20-16 on a kill by Keala. The junior would eventually serve out the set with two consecutive aces.

The Raiders' defense slammed the door shut on the Bison in the second set, holding the opposition to a -.118 hitting percentage (5-9-34), while the offense hit .300 (12-3-30). Colgate led from start to finish in the second game and took a nine-point lead at 15-6 and never were seriously challenged the rest of the way.

The Raiders had a chance to close out Bucknell in the third, but the Bison wouldn't fold. With the Raiders up 16-11, Bucknell tied the game up at 17-17 on a Colgate attack error and eventually forged ahead 21-18 with a string of points. The Raiders rallied back and tied the set at 23-23 on a kill by Durket. Bucknell saved one match point at 23-24 and then reeled off two consecutive points to force a fourth game.

The Raiders broke open a tight 10-9 advantage with three consecutive points. Up 15-13, Colgate put the Bison away with eight consecutive points off the serve of Durket.

Meghan Fanta (Hillsboro, Wisc.) dished out 37 assists in the victory. Applegate led the squad defensively with a match-high 17 digs, while Durket and Keala collected a dozen.

Colgate's block became stronger as the match went on. The Raiders finished with 10 team blocks on three block solos and 14 block assists. Dougherty led the charge with five blocks on the evening, while Maureen Colligan (Odessa, Fla.) added four.

Bucknell was paced by Heidi Kamp's team-high 10-kill performance. Emily Sawanobori finished with 13 digs.

The Raiders return to action Friday evening as they host Lehigh. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Cotterell Court.

Final Box

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