WORCESTER, Mass. – Colgate for the first time this season dropped a five-set match when Holy Cross held on for a 3-2 decision Friday night.
The Crusaders won 25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 23-25, 15-10.
Colgate dropped the first two sets but rallied to tie the match at 2-2 and appeared to have all the momentum heading into the deciding frame. But after a quick 1-0 advantage for the visitors in that final set, Holy Cross took charge and never trailed.
The game was the Patriot League opener for Colgate, which dropped to 6-5 for the season. Holy Cross improved to 2-2 in conference play and 3-10 overall.
Colgate entered the evening 2-0 in five-set matches this season, having defeated Niagara on opening day and rallying from 2-0 down to topple Syracuse last Saturday.
Bottom Line• Holy Cross 3, Colgate 2 (25-19, 25-22, 20-25, 23-25, 15-10).
Won-Lost Records• Colgate is now 6-5 overall and 0-1 in Patriot League play.
• Holy Cross improved to 3-10 and 2-2.
Set Breakdowns• Colgate in the opening set fell behind 6-2, forcing the first of head coach
Ryan Baker's timeouts. Baker's words worked, as the Raiders scored four straight and eventually broke into leads of 9-8 and 12-11. But Holy Cross used a 6-0 run to regain command and coasted to a 25-19 decision.
• The Raiders grabbed a 2-1 lead for the second straight set but then went ice cold. Holy Cross opened leads of 5-2, 12-4 and then 19-5. It was 22-8 Crusaders when Colgate scored eight straight points before a service error ended the run. The Raiders facing game point scored six more in a row but it wasn't enough as Holy Cross held on, 25-22.
• After the intermission, things were tight early in the third set. Holy Cross grabbed leads of 12-9, 14-12 and 17-14, but Colgate wouldn't go away. Three consecutive kills by
Brooke Shupryt-Knoop lifted the Raiders in front, 18-17. Holy Cross flip-flopped ahead but then Colgate reeled off six straight points for a 25-20 win.
• The fourth set was close throughout. Colgate led 11-8 and then 16-11 before Holy Cross rallied. The Raiders were on top 21-20 when
Mari Faines and
Kenzie Hume teamed on a terrific block for a two-point Colgate advantage. The teams traded points the rest of the way as Colgate drew even, 25-23.
• Colgate jumped in front 1-0 on a Crusaders service error, and the opening points were filled with mistakes. But Holy Cross gradually took command with a 9-5 advantage. The Raiders rallied to within 11-10, forcing a Crusaders timeout. Colgate came no closer, however, as Holy Cross scored the match's final four points for a 15-10 closing victory.
More Key Info• Colgate was at its best statistically in Sets 3 and 4. The Raiders posted team attack percentages of .378 and .310, respectively, but finished the game at just .188. Holy Cross posted .241, including a .471 percentage in the crucial fifth set.
• Shupryt-Knoop led the team individually with a .432 attack percentage and 19 kills.
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Kathleen Harris added 11 kills, 11 digs and three service aces. The Raiders as a team had seven service aces.
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Molly Smith posted 29 assists, seven digs and two service aces, while
Jackie Macy chipped in 22 assists and seven digs.
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Elena Simpson was the team leader with 14 digs, while
Madison McAndrews posted 10.
• Faines had a .235 attack percentage and four block assists. Hume finished with six block assists.
Turning Point• It looked to be late in the second set, when Colgate rallied from a 22-8 deficit to pull within 24-22. The Raiders lost that set but used the momentum gained to win the next pair of sets and draw level at two apiece.
• Holy Cross, however, called a late timeout after Colgate had pulled within 11-10 in the final set. The Crusaders regrouped for one final charge and scored the game's final four points to win the match.
Gate Grab Bag• Holy Cross snapped a four-match losing streak to Colgate, which still leads the all-time series by a 43-6 count.
Up Next• Colgate continues its opening Patriot League weekend road trip with a visit to Army. The Black Knights were idle Friday night and enter Saturday's match with a 5-10 overall mark, 1-2 in the Patriot League.