WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Colgate volleyball program earned its fourth straight win in Patriot League action on Sunday afternoon at Army with a 3-1 final. Alex Stein and Julia Kurowski each earned double-doubles, while Alli Lowe led the offense with 20 kills on the day.  
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Raiders had a steady start in the opening set, one in which an 8-0 lead midway through put Colgate up 15-7. A lengthy rally snapped the eight-point run as Army sent a kill to the outside, but Colgate quickly had the sideout after just the one point with a stop by Hailey Horn-Bostel. The Army squad looked to come back with a 4-1 run, but Colgate came out of its timeout with a kill by Taylor Flaherty for a 22-16 advantage. As Horn-Bostel brought the Raiders to set point, Army continued to resist with a pair of points before the block by Julia Kurowski sealed the game at 25-19.

Opening in a similar manner, Colgate was off to a 3-0 lead in the second set after an ace by Bridget Kolsky but a 4-0 Army run tied the game at 5s. After early ties, the Raiders were able to hold a consistent two-point advantage until a narrow kill on the line regained Army's lead at 18-17. After Army's kill off the block increase its advantage to 23-19, Colgate called a timeout. It was one that the Raiders came out of with two points as Alli Lowe put Colgate within one at 23-22, before she followed it up with another kill at the set point. Three straight Colgate kills came by the swing of Lowe to tie the set at 24-24, but after four different set points, Army was able to even the set with a 28-26 final.

Lowe's momentum carried over into the third set as her kill put Colgate up with an early 4-1 lead. Army was able to regain the lead yet again and although the Raiders had a successful challenge to reverse a call and get within one at 9-8, the Knights went ahead to a steady 13-11 lead. After Colgate tied the game at 13-13, Army capitalized on Raider errors for a 17-13 edge through the points would continue to swing. A kill by Sophie Thompson tied the game yet again, and after regaining the lead at 18-17, a block by Lowe and Horn-Bostel lifted the Raiders ahead by two for the first time since single digits. An iconic rally closed out by a Lowe continued to propel the Raiders ahead, while Alex Stein's double-double marking kill made the score 23-22. Another ace by Kolsky claimed the game at 25-22 and a momentous 2-1 edge in the match.

After Army gained a 6-2 edge early in the fourth set, the Raiders came back to regain the lead at 7-6 with the swing of Stein. The Raiders were able to go on another 4-0 run midway through the game to create some separation at 15-11 with the kill by Lowe before an overpass kill by Horn-Bostel solidified another six-point run for the Raiders. Although Colgate held a steady lead through the game, Army went on a brief run of its own with three straight points, after which the Raiders opted to use a timeout. Coming out of it refreshed, a kill by Stein on the outside brought the Raiders to match point before earning the match with on the road a 25-21 final.  
 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Leading the team offensively was junior Alli Lowe behind her fourth 20-plus kill performance of the season. Lowe was also just one dig shy of a double-double with nine digs.
• With 15 kills and 12 digs, senior Alex Stein recorded her second straight double-double.
• Topping the team with her 10th double-double of the season was sophomore setter Julia Kurowski. Kurowski also notched four total blocks with her 50 assists and 12 digs.
• It was a career-high day for sophomore Hailey Horn-Bostel as she tallied 11 kills and a team-high of four total blocks. The number surpasses her previous career-high of nine kills set against American (Sept. 27).
• Topping the team defensively was junior libero Bridget Kolsky with 19 digs. She was one of four Raiders with double-digit digs on the day.
• Freshman Cami Carfino earned 12 digs against Army, for her fourth double-digit dig performance in the last five matches.
• The Raiders held a heavy edge in total team block with a 17.0-8.0 advantage over Army, as well as at the back line with five service aces to the Black Knights' one.
• With the win, the Raiders earned their fourth straight victory against Army in the head-to-head series, and remains as the only undefeated team in the Patriot League.  
• The Raiders' 4-0 start in Patriot League play is a first since the 2013 campaign.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, Army 1 (25-19, 26-28, 25-22, 25-21)
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate improves to 11-5 overall record, as well as an undefeated 4-0 mark in Patriot League play.
• Army has earned an 11-6 mark overall, and is 2-2 in conference action.
 
HEAD COACH RYAN BAKER'S TAKE
"This was a great match as both teams played their hearts out. It's hard to win and to do it on the road is even harder. I couldn't be more proud of our group. 
 
"Julia [Kurowski] set an impeccable match and our hitters got better with every swing. Everyone is coming after us and we are responding.
 
"It'll be nice to have a day off and get back to work for another tough road weekend."
 
UP NEXT
The Raiders continue Patriot League action on the road next weekend, when they travel to Lehigh and Lafayette. First serve is set for 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 11 at Lehigh, followed by 4 p.m. on Saturday at Lafayette.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate volleyball program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateVB and on Instagram at Colgate_VB.