Box Score

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Led by juniors Caitlin Cremin and Lindsay Young, the Colgate volleyball team closed out its run to the Patriot League regular-season title with a 3-1 (25-20, 16-25, 26-24, 25-14) win over Navy on Saturday afternoon to finish 12-2 in league play.

Colgate (15-13, 12-2 PL) finished the regular season with its best league mark in the history of the program. The Raiders best mark previous to this year was 11-3 in 2007 and 2009. Young led the way with 15 kills, while Cremin recorded five service aces and 17 digs on the backline. Diane Seely recorded eight kills and Kaylee Fifer had 36 assists.

“Being named regular season champions is a great accomplishment,” said head coach Ryan Baker. “The credit goes to our senior and junior leadership.“

Navy (11-15, 7-7 PL) saw its season come to an end, but Erin Fortner had a great performance with 21 kills to lead the way. Christy Rapp added 21 digs and Alex Karika recorded 40 assists.

In the first set, Navy was able to earn an early 10-7, highlighted by kills from Fortner and Alex Cassel. Colgate got back in the match with a kill from Liz Karnes and back-to-back Mid errors. The teams then traded points and the Raiders got their first lead at 17-16 on a Navy service error. The lead increased to three at 20-17 with two strikes from Mari Faines and one from Michelle McCarthy. Navy never recovered and Diane Seely put the set out of reach with a kill and a block to give the Raiders the 1-0 match lead with a 25-20 set victory.

Colgate continued with the momentum into the second set with a quick 5-1 lead thanks to kills from McCarthy and Seely, as well as an ace from Cremin. Navy snuck back in the match with four-straight points to make it 5-5. The Mids earned a three-point lead at 13-10 and Colgate cut it to one at 13-12 with two kills from Young. Navy, however, went on a 6-1 run to open up a 19-13 advantage and never looked back to even the match at 1-1 with a 25-16 win in the second set.

The third was a roller coaster for the Raiders as Navy went up early, Colgate countered for a 7-4 lead after two kills by Young and a strike and a block from Fifer. The team played evenly throughout the next 15 points and then the Raiders opened up an 18-13 lead with five kills from five different players, including Kate Reilly and Kenzie Hume. The Mids, however, climbed back into the match and tied it at 21-21 after a Colgate error.  The teams once again traded points and then a Navy attack error and a block by Young and Hume gave the Raiders a 2-1 lead in the match as they took the third set, 26-24.

Colgate was able to get out to a lead in the fourth set at 8-4 with three kills by Young and two by Hume. Navy tried to claw back, but a 7-0 run by the Raiders, featuring three aces from Cremin and kills by Hume and McCarthy.  The run made it 16-7 in favor of the Raiders. The Mids never recovered from the run as Colgate cruised to the 25-14 win in the set and took the match by a 3-1 score.

“This was a total team effort today,” said Baker. “Kenzie Hume and Kate Reilly came in and really changed the match. I am very fortunate to have this type of depth.”

Next up for the Raiders is the Patriot League Tournament, which Colgate will host on Saturday and Sunday. The two semifinal matchups are set and it will be the top-seeded Raiders taking on fourth-seeded Lehigh at 3 p.m., followed by a 6 p.m. start featuring No. 2 Army and No. 3 American at Cotterell Court. The Championship match is set for 3 p.m. on Sunday.