HAMILTON, N.Y. (9/22/11) – The Colgate women's volleyball team begins the 2011 Patriot League season this weekend with a visit to Navy and American.

The Raiders will take on Navy on Friday night at 7 p.m., followed by a tough early season matchup against American at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Fans can view all the necessary links at Volleyball Game Central.

COLGATE FINISHED TOURNAMENT SEASON
The Raiders had a difficult beginning to the season with a 3-9 start in four tournaments. Colgate earned one win in the first three tournaments, but did not get a win in the final invitational at Northwestern. The Raiders dropped a 3-0 decision to Northwestern and 3-1 losses to New Mexico State and Duquesne.

DIG PINK WEEKEND SET FOR SEPT. 20 & OCT. 1
Colgate is asking any fan of Colgate volleyball to make a donation through its donation page at the Side-Out foundation's web site. Fans can also send a check to the Side-Out Foundation with Colgate Volleyball Team on the memo line of your check. The Raiders have set a goal of $5,000 and are hoping to reach that with a jersey auction, bake sales and your donations. Also the team will be hosting a party at DU, where they hope to raise money with their own classmates. Colgate is participating in honor of Susan Beattie, who is a member of the Senior Rowdy Raider fan group, and has recently finished her chemo treatment and is on the road to recovery after chemo treatments for breast cancer.

ROOKIE IMPACT
Colgate has had to rely on its first year players throughout the first part of the season. Diane Seely and Kenzie Hume have made significant contributions. Seely had 75 kills to lead rookies and Hume is second in the Patriot League in hitting percentage at .295 with 72 kills and just 18 errors. The two are joined by Mari Faines on the frontline and the three have been important blockers up front. Hume leads the group with 20 total blocks, while Seely and Faines have 16 and 10, respectively.

FIFER ALL OVER THE COURT
Kaylee Fifer has been all over the court this fall as she is in the top-10 in the league in both assists and digs. She has 356 assists in 41 sets for an average of 8.68 per set. She is fourth in the league in total digs and is third in her per set average. In addition to her numbers as a setter, she is a major part of the defense as she has 141 digs, which is second on the team and she is ninth in the league with her average of 3.44 per set.

VOLLEYBALL SLATED TO FINISH THIRD
The Colgate women's volleyball team received two first-place votes in the Patriot League Preseason Volleyball Poll, but was bumped to third with 73 total points in the poll, which was voted on by the league coaches and sports information directors. American was the favorite to win the league once again after almost running the table in 2010 and posting a 29-3 overall record during the campaign. The Eagles earned the maximum 98 points in the poll and received 14 first-place votes. Army was picked second with 83 points. Bucknell captured fourth with 57 points, followed very closely by Lehigh in fifth with 56 points. The poll was rounded out by Navy in sixth (34 points), Holy Cross in seventh (28) and Lafayette in eighth (19).

SCOUTING THE MIDS
Navy comes into the first weekend of conference play with a 5-10 overall record. The Midshipmen have enjoyed success recently with five wins in the team's last eight matches. They started the season with seven-straight losses, including four at their own invitational.

Carolyn Ewert is the team leader in kills with 158 and has also added 102 digs. She averages over three kills per second and over two digs. Malda Kalic' is second on the team in kills with 100 and is the team leader in blocks with 27. Erin Fortner returns as the primary setter and has 359 this season and averages 8.5 a set. Holly Berger is the leader in digs at 212, while Katie Bray and Christy Rapp have 123 and 127, respectively.

SERIES HISTORY
Colgate and Navy will be competing for the 40th time in the series since the first meeting back in 1979. The Raiders own a commanding 27-12 lead in the series and is on a 11-match winning streak against the Mids and have not lost to them since 2005. Navy has only won two sets in the last seven matches.

SCOUTING THE EAGLES
American enters conference play with a 6-9 record. The Eagles have won just two matches in their last eight, including a 3-1 win over Loyola (Md.) on Wednesday. They started the season 4-3 before running into a tough stretch.

American has three players with over 100 kills so far this season. Sara Rishell leads the way with 171 on the year, Morgan Hendrix has 132 and Juliana Crum has recorded 121 kills. Rishell is also huge on the defensive end with 46 blocks and 59 digs. Monika Smidova and Alexandra Hammer share duties as the setter and Smidova has 278 assists, while Hammer has posted 234. Smidova is the team leader in digs with 136.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 26th meeting between American and Colgate with the Eagles holding a 23-2 advantage. American has won the last five matches, including last year's Patriot League Championship match. The Raiders last won back in 2009 by a 3-1 score.