LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Colgate volleyball program recorded its third consecutive sweep in Patriot League play as a lengthy three-set win over Bucknell featured double-doubles by both
Alex Stein and
Julia Kurowski. With the win, the Raiders swept the 2018 series against the Bison and stand solely in third place in the Patriot League standings.
HOW IT HAPPENED – 3-0 WIN OVER BUCKNELL
To open the match, the pair of conference foes were going point-for-point before a 9-1 run extended Colgate to a 13-6 lead. It was a lead they would keep for the remainder of the set, on its way to an eventual 25-16 final with the swing of
Jaelah Hutchison's first of six kills.
Bucknell responded and pressured play at the net in the second set, and the teams were all squared away at 15-15 as they hit the midway point. The start to the set already saw 14 tie scores to that point, and neither team held a lead of more than two points either way. Colgate's persistence after a timeout lifted them to a 19-17 lead, and eventually battled through 20 tie scores and eight lead changes on the way to its marathon of a set at 30-28 with a block by
Taylor Flaherty and Stein.
After the major momentum swing of a 2-0 lead for the Raiders, there was a slow and steady start to the third, that quickly transitioned into an 18-13 Colgate lead midway through. After a match that held an astounding 30 tie scores and 11 lead changes, Colgate closed out the sweep with a 25-18 final over Bucknell.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Each with a team-high of now seven double-doubles on the season, Stein reached hers by a team-high of 13 kills and 14 digs, while Kurowski marked 33 assists and a career-high of 15 digs. Kurowski also tallied two of the Raiders three service aces of the night, all of which came in the third set.
• Senior
Amanda Smith marked her fifth double-digit kill match of the season by 10 successful swings.
• Five Raiders tallied double-digit digs, including a team-high of 20 by
Katie Stansbury. It is the senior's second time surpassing the 20-dig marker this season, after marking 23 against Lehigh (Oct. 12).
• At the net, senior
Jaelah Hutchison marked a team-high six blocks by one solo and five assists on the team's 10.0 on the night.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, Bucknell 0 (25-16, 30-28, 25-18)
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate improves to 12-11 overall, and holds a 7-4 mark in Patriot League play.
• Bucknell drops to 6-16, and falls to 1-10 in conference action.
COACH BAKER'S TAKE
"This was a great road win against a much improved Bucknell team."
"
Ashley Chow,
Hannah Cannon and
Katie Stansbury did a great job in the backrow tonight. I'm just so proud of how resilient we are playing."
UP NEXT
The Raiders continue Patriot League play on the road tomorrow, Oct. 27 as they face Lafayette in a 3 p.m. first serve. Colgate next returns to Cotterell Court on Nov. 2 as it hosts American.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate volleyball program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateVB and on Instagram at Colgate_VB.
