BUFFALO, N.Y. – The Colgate volleyball program rounded out the Buffalo Tournament with another five-setter, a match in which the Raiders came back to claim a 3-2 victory against the host.
Julia Kurowski notched her third double-double of the weekend, while
Alli Lowe and
Alex Stein were named to the All-Tournament Team.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Colgate started the morning with a 2-0 lead against the Bulls, but over the course of the set, Buffalo inched ahead. It was with a sneak attack by Kurowski that the Raiders narrowed the Bulls' lead to just 18-16. The determination of the Raiders carried to Buffalo's set point, as Lowe notched a kill, followed by a block by Kurowski and
Hailey Horn-Bostel to continue play. Outside hitter Stein marked another kill as the Raiders looked for the comeback, but Buffalo ultimately claimed the opening set on its fourth attempt.
In a set with a slow start, Colgate was able to build a 12-9 lead behind back-to-back service aces by
Bridget Kolsky. Buffalo began to close the gap and claimed a brief 22-21 edge, until
Hannah Cannon brought the Raiders to set point with her third ace of the weekend. Buffalo pushed play into extra points until a kill by Horn-Bostel regained the Raiders lead at 26-25. Colgate saw its third set point at 27-26 after a Stein kill, and withstood Buffalo's battle to claim the win and even the match at 1-1. A match-high, the nonconference foes fought through 12 tie scores and four lead changes.
From the start, Buffalo plowed ahead to an early lead and while the Raiders looked to chip away at it, found themselves down midway through the set at 18-8 after a kill by freshman
Athena Leota. Buffalo broke ahead to a 25-15 win and Colgate faced a must-win fourth set.
After starting by going point-for-point, the Bulls earned a 6-2 lead that the Raiders pushed their way back into, before Cannon tied the game at 6-6 by tallying her second ace of the day. Just as Colgate gained a 22-12 advantage, Buffalo went on an eight-point run to narrow the Raiders lead to 22-20 in the must-win set. Colgate would come out of the set with a 25-22 victory to face a fifth set for the third time this weekend.
After opening the set with a Stein kill, the Colgate squad was determined to take the set even when it was trailing 8-5 as the teams switched sides. As the bench fired up, Colgate was able to gain a 13-11 lead and built on the momentum to ultimately close out the five-set comeback with back-to-back Stein kills.
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• With 24 digs, junior
Bridget Kolsky tied her career-high earned last season against Chicago State (Aug. 24, 2018) and tied her career-best of three aces dating back to Oct. 13, 2017 (vs. Lafayette). On the weekend, Kolsky had three 20-plus dig performances and two multi-ace matches.
• After posting nine kills in the opening set, junior
Alli Lowe went on to mark a team-leading 22 in the match for a 60 kill weekend.
• In addition to tying her career-high of 52 assists, sophomore setter
Julia Kurowski notched her third straight double-double by pairing them with 11 digs.
• A well-rounded performance, senior
Alex Stein recorded 18 kills, seven digs, two blocks, and one service ace on the day.
• Sophomore
Hailey Horn-Bostel marked a team-leading and season-best of five total blocks, paired with six kills on the day.
• Colgate has been consistent at the back line with six aces in each of the first two matches, followed up by seven against Buffalo.
• All four players from Colgate's freshman class saw action against Buffalo including
Taylor Davis, who posted three kills and one block, and
Sophie Thompson who earned three total blocks and one kill.
BUFFALO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
McKinley Fox – Marist
Polina Prokudina – Buffalo
Alex Stein – Colgate
Alli Lowe – Colgate
Kaylee Thomas – Alabama
Ginger Perinar – Alabama
Tournament MVP
Alyiah Wells – Alabama
Tournament Champion
Alabama
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, Buffalo 2 (23-25, 28-26, 15-25, 25-22, 15-12)
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate improves to a 2-1 overall record on the season.
• Buffalo holds a 1-2 mark on the year.
COACH BAKER'S TAKE
"This team proved once again that they are tough. Buffalo is a really good team with a lot of experience, especially in the setting and outside hitter positions. Our response was phenomenal and we had some big play from a multitude of players. As a coach, it was exciting to watch us play our best volleyball in the crucial fifth set.
"
Alli Lowe and
Alex Stein did a great job in all aspects of the game this weekend. Setter
Julia Kurowski made great decisions and got better with each set.
"We will take this week to continue and develop our physical and mental sides of the game. Everyone needs a much-needed rest after 15 sets in 27 hours!"
UP NEXT
The Raiders continue nonconference tournament action next weekend at the three-match Harvard Tournament. Colgate takes on Rhode Island, Sacred Heart, and Harvard across Sept. 6-7.
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate volleyball program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateVB and on Instagram at Colgate_VB.
