HAMILTON – The Raiders withstood late Lafayette runs to sweep the Leopards 25-18, 25-19, 25-23. With the win, Colgate moves to 6-2 in Patriot League matchups this season. 
 
Colgate used 12 kills to top Lafayette in the first set, winning 25-18. The frame was tied at 8 apiece, but the Raiders used an 11-4 run to take the 19-12 advantage over the Leopards. Two kills by sophomore Katie Stansbury helped boost the Raiders on their 11-4 stretch. It looked like Colgate was going to be able to close out the set easily, but Lafayette fought back, using a run of its own to get the frame to 22-16, the closest it would become for the rest of the way. Freshman Hannah Cannon helped stop the Leopards' momentum when she recorded her first career kill, which gave the Raiders the 24-16 lead. A Stansbury kill closed out the frame at 25-18, giving the Raiders the 1-0 set advantage. Taylor Flaherty and Stansbury each recorded three kills in the set.
 
The Raiders got off to a hot start in the second set, but had to withstand another Lafayette run to take the frame 25-19. Colgate used a 14-5 run to start off the set, thanks to two kills apiece from Katie Stebbins and Stansbury. The Leopards chipped away at Colgate's lead until the Raiders only held a 15-11 advantage. After a Colgate timeout, the momentum swung back in the Raiders' favor when they used a 6-2 run to gain the 21-13 lead over Lafayette. The Leopards continued to battle, getting the game to within five points at 23-18, but Jaelah Hutchison shut down the run with a kill, pushing Colgate's lead to six in the final points. A service error by Lafayette would secure the 25-19 win for the Raiders. Stebbins led the Raider way with three kills in the frame.
 
Once again Colgate got out to a great start in the third set, before having to battle Lafayette for the 25-23 win. The Raiders started the frame on a 7-1 run thanks to a Stansbury service run. Within the run, Kathleen Harris and Noel Kennebeck both recorded kills for the Raiders. The Leopards fought their way back early, chipping away at the Colgate lead until it was down to two at 10-8. Three consecutive Raider kills gave Colgate the 13-8 lead and led to a Lafayette timeout. The Leopards used a 5-1 run out of the timeout to get the set within one point at 14-13. The squads continued to battle, with Colgate holding a three-point advantage most of the way. But after a Lafayette kill and a Colgate attack error, the Leopards were within one point at 24-23. The Raiders called their final timeout of the set and Stebbins secured the victory with a kill to end the frame. Harris and Stebbins both pitched in five kills in the final set to secure the match.
 
The Raiders are back in action next Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at Cotterell Court when they face Army West Point and Holy Cross.
 
Bottom Line
- Colgate 3, Lafayette 0 (25-18, 25-19, 25-23)
 
Won-Lost Records
- Raiders improve to 10-9 on the season and moves to 6-2 in conference play.
- Lafayette drops to 3-15 on the year and 1-7 in Patriot League play.
 
Key Raider Info
- Harris led the way for the Raiders with nine kills and 11 digs in the match.
- Stebbins also helped pace Colgate's offense, finishing the match with nine kills.
- Hutchison pitched in seven kills on the day to go along with one solo block.
- Stansbury logged 11 digs as well as six kills in the match.
- McAndrews paced the Raider defense with 11 digs and Peighton McRobie logged 10 digs of her own.
- Molly Smith dished out 35 assists over the three sets.
 
Inside the Box Score
- The Raiders hit .259 as a squad, collecting 42 total kills. The Leopards logged 31 kills, finishing the day with a .154 hitting clip.
- Colgate finished the day with 11 service aces, while Lafayette recorded six.
- The Raiders registered six blocks as a team, while the Leopards recorded one.
 
From the Source Head Coach Ryan Baker
- "I felt that we played a very clean match against a much improved Lafayette team. I thought that Molly set a wonderful match. Her choices and location were great. Lafayette has some strong servers, but our passing game really hung in there.
- "We need a strong week of practice as we face an always tough Army team on Friday."
 
Up Next
- The Raiders are back in Hamilton next weekend to face Army West Point on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
- Live stats will be available for the game.  
- Find all the information on Colgate and Army West Point at Game Central.