ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Colgate volleyball program garnered its third straight sweep with an extra-point win over defending Patriot League Champion Navy on Friday evening.
With the 3-0 victory, the Raiders remain tied with American for first place in the Patriot League standings at 14-1 with a single match to play in the regular season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Early in the match Navy inched ahead, before the Raiders were able to regain the lead with a kill off the block at 8-7. After going point-for-point through 14s, Colgate won an incredible rally as its defense forced the Navy ball long to finally gain a crucial two-point advantage at 16-14. As the teams powered forward,
Alli Lowe served up a soft touch on the outside to make it a 21-18, before doing the same to bring the Raiders to set point. Behind an ace by
Bridget Kolsky, the Raiders sealed a 25-20 opening set win.
In a flip from the first set Navy sailed ahead to a 7-1 lead with a successful block, a deficit that would stand as Colgate saw itself trailing at 15-7 midway through. It was as the Raiders went on a 4-1 run to narrow the game at 17-13 that Navy began to see the set slipping away and called a timeout. Colgate came out of the session with a 5-0 run to make it a one-point game behind a block by
Taylor Flaherty and
Sophie Thompson, before gaining its first lead of the set at 21-20. After a tie at 23s, the Raiders persevered with two straight points for the 25-23 victory.
A competitive pairing, the match featured another back-and-forth start until the Mids answered with a 3-0 run to gain a 13-10 advantage. Looking to close out the match strong, the Raiders called a timeout and came out of it with back-to-back points. As Navy inched ahead, Colgate pushed right back, tying the game yet again at 16s. With a quick kill to the back row by
Alex Stein, the Raiders saw 17s but Navy could tie the set just the same. After the Midshipmen made it 21-21 with a kill off the block, the Raiders responded with three straight kills by Lowe take it in extra points. Behind the 26-24 win, Colgate earned its third straight sweep heading into the regular season finale tomorrow at Bucknell.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Four players put up double-digit digs, being led by junior libero
Bridget Kolsky with 18.
• Kolsky now joins the Colgate record book behind her 1,046 career digs. She overtakes
Katie Stansbury '19 to sit 10th overall in program history.
• Behind a team-high of 18 kills and 15 digs, junior outside hitter
Alli Lowe recorded her seventh double-double of the season and first since facing Holy Cross (Nov. 3).
• For her team-leading 14th double-double of the season, sophomore setter
Julia Kurowski collected 33 assists and 10 digs. A well-rounded performance, Kurowski also tallied a team-high of three total blocks and two aces at the back line.
• At the back line, sophomore
Ashley Chow recorded her fifth multi-ace match of the season with two.
• It marks the fourth sweep in Colgate's five-match win streak.
• It all comes down to the regular season finale tomorrow, as the Raiders can finish first in the Patriot League win a win and an American loss. The postseason read has the Raiders finishing no lower than second in the standings.
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, Navy 0 (25-20, 25-23, 26-24)
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate now holds a 21-6 overall record, as well as a 14-1 mark in Patriot League play.
• Navy moves to 15-11 on the season, and 10-5 in conference action.
HEAD COACH RYAN BAKER'S TAKE
"This was a total team effort tonight against a very good Navy team. Wins in the league are hard to come by, especially on the road.
"Our defensive effort was incredible and inspiring to watch.
Bridget Kolsky made huge plays for us all night. It was great to watch her take over.
"We have another tough match tomorrow. Bucknell is a very good home team and I know they'll be bringing their best. We will recover and get ready."
UP NEXT
The Raiders conclude the regular season tomorrow evening as they take on Bucknell. First serve is set for 4 p.m. in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate volleyball program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateVB and on Instagram at Colgate_VB.
