HAMILTON – Colgate's marvelous 33-match home winning streak came to an abrupt end with a hard-fought 3-2 loss to Bucknell on Friday evening at Cotterell Court.
The five-set marathon was Colgate's first loss at home since Sept. 10, 2021, when the Raiders dropped a 3-2 decision to Princeton early in non-conference play.
Sophie Thompson registered 17 blocks, the most in NCAA Division I in a single match this season. The fifth-year senior continues to be dominant at the net. She came into the match ranked seventh nationally averaging 1.49 blocks per set.
Gillian Hauschild rattled off 18 kills to go with five block assists, while Claire Dewine and Sydney Jones posted double-doubles. Dewine finished with 16 assists and 10 digs, while Jones led the team with 29 digs and 10 assists. Rachael Martinez posted a team-high 21 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Colgate 33, Bucknell 31
Colgate won an absolute marathon where both teams faced set point multiple times. The Raiders maintained the upper hand and eventually took the set 33-31 after Bucknell was called for a net violation. Martinez kept several volleys alive throughout the set, finishing with nine digs. Abby Shadwick paced the team offensively with four kills.
Set 2: Bucknell 25, Colgate 17
The Bison led 8-3 and stretched it to 21-12 before Colgate made a run. Taylor Cigna landed a service ace and Hauschild added a kill during a 4-0 spurt that brought the Raiders within 22-17, but that was as close as they would get. Bucknell closed it out, 25-17, to tie the match at 1-1.
Set 3: Colgate 25, Bucknell 21
Dewine scored three consecutive points with a kill and two service aces to push the lead to 9-4. Bucknell closed within one point on two separate occasions before Colgate pulled away with five unanswered points. Dewine had another ace to stretch the lead to 22-16. The Bison brought the margin to 22-20 before back-to-back errors gave the Raiders the 25-21 win.
Set 4: Bucknell 25, Colgate 22
Colgate needed just one of the final two sets but Bucknell did not go away. The Raiders led 6-1 early before Bucknell answered with seven straight points to lead 8-6. A kill from Hauschild put Colgate back in front 18-17 but that was the Raiders' final lead of the night. Bucknell got back-to-back kills from Catherine Jamison to seal the set, 25-22.
Set 5: Bucknell 15, Colgate 11
The Raiders never led in the final set. Bucknell hit a match-best .389 in the final frame. Back-to-back kills from Milan Bayless pulled Colgate within 9-7 but three straight points put the visitors back in the driver's seat. A kill from Tijana Kostic capped off the stanza with Bucknell securing the 15-11 triumph.
UP NEXT
Colgate (15-6, 8-2 PL) hosts Lehigh on Saturday at 3 p.m. for its penultimate regular-season home match. The Raiders will celebrate their four seniors prior to their contest.
