Box Score

BY JAMAR BROWN '13
GoColgateRaiders.com

HAMILTON, N.Y. – Colgate took the first two sets but then dropped the next three in a 3-2 defeat to Bryant in the 2012 season opener Friday night at Cotterell Court.

Final scores for the nightcap of the Colgate Classic were 15-25, 14-25, 25-21, 25-17 and 18-16.

Juniors Kaylee Fifer and Lindsay Young led Colgate (0-1) with 25 assists and 11 kills, respectively, while Caitlin Cremin was on the floor often with 11 digs.

The Raiders had things going early and often, racing to a 10-5 lead in the opening set. Bryant battled back and to make it a game, pulling within one at 12-11. But with the Bulldogs within striking distance, Colgate finished on a 13-4 run to take the first set 25-15.

Both squads alternated scores to begin the second set before the Raiders were able to create some breathing room thanks to a couple of kills from Liz Karnes. Leading 10-6, Colgate kept the pressure on Bryant for the remainder of the set. CU pushed the lead to 18-11 before taking the set 25-14.

Momentum Change
Bryant returned from the locker room rejuvenated and determined to extend the contest. The Bulldogs were all over Colgate midway through the third set, leading 10-8. A couple of aces from Allie Dyer gave the Raiders a 12-11 lead, but Bryant answered back with a 5-1 run to regain control and take a 16-13 advantage. Colgate fought back in old form to knot the set at 20 apiece, but Bryant would not allow the sweep. A 5-1 run to end the set turned out to be crucial, as the Bulldogs took that one 25-21.  

Momentum is always a key factor, and Bryant was certainly riding that wave.

The Bulldogs took an early 7-2 lead in the fourth set, but Colgate rallied to tie the game at 13 apiece. Colgate looked ready to steal the set from Bryant, but it turned out to be all Bulldogs from that point. Bryant ended the set on a 12-4 run and took the fourth set 25-17 to force a fifth set.

The final set of the match was close throughout. Both teams were going point for point, and breathing room was difficult to come by. The set remained tied at the eight-point mark when Colgate became the first squad to score back-to-back points and take a 10-8 lead. The Raiders held three match points at 14-11, but costly mistakes left the door open and the Bulldogs took advantage by tying the set at 14 apiece.

Once the Bulldogs were able to knot the game, they showed newfound energy and capitalized by closing out the Raiders with a final score of 18-16 to take game number two of the Colgate Classic.

Bryant (1-0) got game-highs from Claire Van Dyk with 13 kills and Jadith Lorenzo with a double-double of 39 assists and 10 digs. Kaitlyn Klein put down 12 kills while Macy Mitravich posted 14 digs.

In Friday's opening match, Syracuse rallied for a 3-2 win over Illinois-Chicago by the scores of 25-13, 24-26, 18-25, 25-21 and 15-9. Sophomore Noemie Lefebvre led Syracuse with a game-high 21 kills, while Emily Betteridge dished out 37 assists. Kelsey Safranek handed out a game-high 39 assists to lead UIC.

The Classic continues Saturday with four matches. Syracuse takes on Bryant at 10 a.m., followed by Colgate vs. Illinois-Chicago at 12:30 p.m. UIC battles Bryant at 4:30, and Colgate takes on Syracuse in the nightcap at 7:30.