CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Colgate volleyball program closed out nonconference tournament action with a doubleheader at the Carolina Classic.

After falling to ACC foe North Carolina 3-1, the Raiders battled in a five-setter against VCU before falling 3-2. Senior Alex Stein led the Raiders with 59 kills in the Carolina Classic, while Colgate's freshman class had standout performances against the challenging competition.

Colgate returns to Cotterell Court next weekend to open Patriot League play against American and Loyola.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina ran ahead to a 5-2 advantage early in the set, but Colgate was able to regain a narrow lead at 8-7. After going point-for-point through a 12-12 score, the Tarheels ran ahead to a late in the game. It was when the Raiders went on a 3-1 run behind a Sophie Thompson kill that pushed North Carolina to call a timeout holding just a 23-21 lead, but the home team was able to take the game 25-22.

After another narrow start, a 3-0 scoring run put North Carolina on top 18-13 midway through the set. It was with a deep attack for the kill by Ellen Hamlin that fueled the Raider bench, but North Carolina continued to lead 18-14. At North Carolina's set point, the Raiders resisted with a five-point scoring run that included back-to-back blocks by Thompson, but was too late as the Tarheels were eventually able to gain a 2-0 advantage in the match with a 25-20 final.

In another slow point-for-point start, the Raiders were able to inch ahead as a kill by Hailey Horn-Bostel lifted Colgate to an 8-4 edge. With back-to-back kills by Hamlin, Colgate increased their lead to 19-15 in the must-win third set. Heading into a North Carolina timeout, the Raiders went on a four-point run, while an additional run closed out by a block by Alex Stein and Thompson brought Colgate to set point. Although the run was snapped by North Carolina, Colgate ultimately was able to close out the 25-19 win to force a fourth set.

After being tied at 9-9 early on, the Raiders were able to gain a two-point advantage at 11-9 with a kill by Alex Stein. Although it was a narrow lead, the Raiders stayed ahead until North Carolina gained steam coming out of a timeout with a 5-2 run that brought them up 19-15. A kill by Taylor Flaherty put the Raiders within two at 20-18, before a service ace by Julia Kurowski carried it to a three-point run and back within one. As North Carolina inched closer to 25 looking to close out the match, Alex Stein sunk an ace for a 4-0 run by the Raiders and reclaimed the lead at 23-21. After its timeout, North Carolina was able to come back with a big block to claim the game at 25-23 for the 3-1 final.
 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• Earning her second straight double-double and sixth of the season, senior Alex Stein led the team with 19 kills, paired with 14 digs. The 19 kills and 14 digs are each just one shy of her season-bests of 20 kills against Alabama (Aug. 31) and 15 digs against New Hampshire (Sept. 14).
• A well-rounded performance, Stein also had two blocks and one of the team's two service aces on the day.
• Also earning her second consecutive double-double and team-leading eighth in the season's 11 matches was sophomore setter Julia Kurowski behind 40 assists and 14 digs.
• With seven total blocks, freshman Sophie Thompson set a new career-high in her early collegiate career, surpassing her six total blocks against Rhode Island (Sept. 6). Thompson also matched her blocks with a season-high seven kills while hitting a solid .385.
• Leading the team defensively was junior libero Bridget Kolsky with 15 digs. Kolsky holds double-digit digs in 10 of the season's 11 matches thus far.
• Sophomore Ellen Hamlin set new season-high numbers on both sides of the ball as well with seven kills and six digs, in addition to tallying two blocks on the day.
• The nonconference foes battled through a match-high of 12 tie scores and seven lead changes in Colgate's third set win, ultimately tallying 26 total ties and 12 lead changes on the day.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
The Raiders opened with strong play, as a 3-0 start eventually led to a 6-1 lead. VCU was able get back within one at 9-8, but a 6-0 scoring run by Colgate increased its lead yet again at 14-8 topped by an ace by Ellen Hamlin. It continued to be an incredibly streaky set, as Colgate's six-point lead was brought back within one at 19-18. After VCU was able to tie the game at 21s, a 3-0 run brought the Raiders to set point. With a kill by Alex Stein, the game was claimed with a 4-0 run at 25-22.

Compared to the opening set, the second game stayed close, with just a two-point spread through a 6-4 VCU advantage. It was when a 5-0 scoring run sent the Rams ahead, and they were able to run away with it and close the set with a 4-0 scoring run at 25-13.

The Raiders were able to quickly rebound and build an early 10-7 lead in the third game, but the teams went point-for-point through the teens, until a kill by Cami Carfino put Colgate up at 20-19. In similar style to the opening set, a 3-0 scoring run was capped by a Stein kill for Colgate's 25-22 win.

The momentum continued to swing throughout the match, and it was VCU who was off with an early run and 10-4 advantage in the fourth set. Looking to avoid a fifth set, the Raiders were able to narrow the score to 12-9 after a kill by Hailey Horn-Bostel extended to four-straight Raider points. As VCU inched ahead, Colgate was able to hit another hot streak that narrowed the Rams' lead to 21-18 with a six-point scoring streak. The Raiders persistence continued as they were fueled by a Bridget Kolsky ace and a Sophie Thompson block that deterred three straight VCU set points, but the Rams were able to force a fifth set.

Colgate faced a tumultuous start with a 6-1 run by VCU in the decisive game, but was able to turn it around for a match-high hitting percentage of .450. It was brought back within three, but the Rams rallied ahead to set point. Carfino was ready to notch another kill at match point to continue play at 14-10, but the Rams were able to close out the 3-2 win with the 15-10 final.
 
STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
• With 21 kills, senior outside hitter Alex Stein earned a new career-high for a total of 59 on the weekend. Paired with it, Stein completed her third consecutive double-double and seventh in the season's 12 matches by adding 10 digs.
• Behind 51 assists and 19 digs, sophomore setter Julia Kurowski notched her third straight double-double, and team-leading ninth in the season's 12 matches. The 19 digs were just one shy of her career-high earned against New Hampshire (Sept. 14).
• An outstanding performance in the back line, freshman Cami Carfino set a new career number with 19 digs. The Los Angeles native nearly notched a double-double by adding nine kills to her game while hitting .300.
• Another strong performance by a freshman was Sophie Thompson with her first double-digit kill match in her career. The Texan was effective at the net with a .471 hitting percentage for 10 kills and two total blocks.
• A true back-and-forth game, the third set featured 16 tie scores and eight lead changes, while the match included a total of 27 ties and 10 lead changes overall.
• It was just the third time this season that VCU has played in a five-setter, as the Raiders joined Alabama and UC Santa Barbara taking the Rams to a full match.
 
THE BOTTOM LINE
• North Carolina 3, Colgate 1 (25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23)
• VCU 3, Colgate 2 (22-25, 25-13, 22-25, 25-19, 15-10)
 
RECORD UPDATES
• Colgate now holds a 7-5 overall record after its nonconference tournament slate.
• North Carolina marks a 2-7 record.
• VCU has earned a 9-5 record on the year.
 
COACH BAKER'S TAKE
"We made Colgate proud on this trip. We faced off against two premier volleyball programs and never let down for one moment . The effort this team displayed was off the charts.
 
"I've coached a lot of teams and this was by far one of my most proud moments. Alex Stein led throughout the weekend and our younger players played out of their minds."
 
UP NEXT
The Raiders open Patriot League play at home next Friday, Sept. 27 as they host the defending Patriot League Regular Season Champion in American. First serve is slated for 7 p.m. at Cotterell Court.
 
FOLLOW THE RAIDERS
For more information on the Colgate volleyball program, follow the Raiders on Twitter @ColgateVB and on Instagram at Colgate_VB.