CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After Radford claimed the opening game, the Colgate volleyball program rebounded to earn three straight set wins to down the Highlanders 3-1 in the opener of the Carolina Classic.

The Raiders are back in action tomorrow with the final nonconference matches of the season when they face host North Carolina and VCU in a double-header.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
After Radford claimed the opening point, the Raiders battled back to gain an 8-5 edge early in the set. When the Highlanders went on five-point scoring run, the Raiders found themselves down 15-13 midway through the game. Coming out of a timeout, Colgate went on their own scoring run to tie it up at 16s behind a kill by junior outside hitter Alli Lowe. After it inched ahead, the Radford squad capitalized on Colgate's timeout, coming out of it with a 5-0 scoring run to close out the set at 25-20.

Quickly rebounding, the Raiders claimed the opening point of the second set. A much closer game with no more than a two-point spread midway through, the Raiders went up 12-11 with a block by senior Taylor Flaherty and Lowe. With a three-point run, Radford gained its two-point lead back yet again at 14-12 heading into a timeout. The advantage would continue to flip through eight lead changes and 15 tie scores, until an extensive rally led to a kill by Lowe for a 16-15 advantage. On her way to capping a 4-0 scoring run for the Raiders, Lowe sealed the set win at 25-22 to even the match. Three of the last four points for Colgate came by the swing of Lowe.

The third set was another narrow scoring span through the start, until a 4-0 run by the Raiders increased their lead to 18-12. The margin marked the largest lead of the day for the Raiders, until Flaherty notched one of her four service aces bringing the nonconference foes to set point. An extensive rally was snuffed out with a block by the combination of freshman Sophie Thompson and senior Alex Stein for the set point and 25-18 win. Yet another streaky game, Colgate closed out with a 4-0 run for a 2-1 advantage.

Determined to seal the comeback, Lowe opened the game with another kill on Radford's right side. After freshman Taylor Davis' second kill of the match, the Raiders gained a 10-6 advantage forcing Radford to call an early timeout. The Raiders continued to race ahead past the Highlanders to a 15-6 edge with a seven-point scoring run. Ultimately, it was Thompson closing out the comeback with a solo block for a dominant 25-15 final.
 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Three Raiders earned double-double numbers against the Highlanders in sophomore setter Julia Kurowski, junior Alli Lowe, and senior Alex Stein. It marks the fifth match this season that the Raiders have had multiple players with double-doubles.
• For her team-leading seventh double-double in the season's 10 matches, Kurowski notched 43 assists and 15 digs.
• Behind a team-leading 19 kills and 12 digs, Stein marked her fifth double-double of the year. Stein's 19 kills were just one shy of her career-high of 20 earned against Alabama in the season-opener (Aug. 31).
• In addition to 15 kills and 13 digs for her third double-double, Lowe tied her career-best of four total blocks, dating back to Oct. 27, 2018 at Lafayette.
• Junior libero Bridget Kolsky recorded a season-high of 25 digs, surpassing her previous season-best of 24 at Buffalo (Sept. 1). Kolsky's defensive performance was the most digs for the California native since tallying 25 against Towson in the 2017 NIVC (Nov. 30, 2017).
• A standout at the back line, senior Taylor Flaherty earned a career-high of four service aces against the Highlanders. The mark doubles her previous six-time career-best of two.
• Also having a strong defensive performance, freshman Cami Carfino set a new collegiate-best in digs in her early career with seven. 
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, Radford 1 (20-25, 25-22, 25-18, 25-15)
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate improves to a 7-3 overall record.
• Radford drops to a 4-6 record on the year.
 
HEAD COACH RYAN BAKER'S TAKE
"After a slow start, I was really happy with our response. Our passing game stayed steady which ended up being the difference maker. Radford made some great defensive plays and challenged us to transition and keep playing hard. Alex Stein lead throughout the match both physically and emotionally.
 
"We have to start faster and be more aggressive, especially with the teams we face tomorrow."
 
UP NEXT
The Raiders continue the Carolina Classic tomorrow as they face the host North Carolina in a noon first serve, followed by the nonconference finale against VCU at 4:30 p.m.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate volleyball program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateVB and on Instagram at Colgate_VB.