HAMILTON – Colgate Volleyball celebrated Senior Day by returning to the win column with a 3-1 triumph over Lehigh on Saturday afternoon at Cotterell Court.
The Raiders snapped their two-match slide and avoided their third consecutive five-set battle by coming back to beat the Mountain Hawks in the fourth and decisive set. Colgate as a team hit .237 while holding Lehigh to a .150 clip in a strong defensive performance.
"This was a good team win today," said head coach Ryan Baker after the bounce-back triumph. "Our response was fantastic and we competed hard. We are getting everyone's best and today was no different. Anytime we are playing a league opponent, it takes on a playoff feel. We will get back to work on Monday."
Gillian Hauschild (16) and Abby Shadwick (14) combined for 30 kills to lead the Raiders offensively. Sydney Jones posted her third consecutive double-double with a team-best 26 assists and 11 digs. Sophie Thompson, who was recognized with a commemorative ball for recently breaking the program record in block assists, finished with three more blocks in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Colgate 25, Lehigh 19
Lehigh created an early 9-6 lead before Colgate found its rhythm. The teams went back and forth with neither side holding a comfortable lead. Thompson landed a service ace before Libby Overmyer's kill gave the Raiders a 20-17 margin, which at the time was their largest lead. Colgate put it away with the final four points capped off by a service ace from Rachael Martinez.
Set 2: Colgate 25, Lehigh 16
Martinez served up another ace and Colgate established an 8-3 margin on the heels of a kill from Shadwick. Lehigh called a timeout with the score 10-4 and ensued to score five of the next seven points to close within 12-9. Shadwick drilled another kill to regain a six-point margin 17-11 and Colgate cruised from there. Hauschild's kill sealed the set for the Raiders, 25-16.
Set 3: Lehigh 25, Colgate 22
After a back-and-forth start, Lehigh broke away from a 10-10 deadlock with four straight points to build a 14-10 margin. Kills from Shadwick and Hauschild sparked four unanswered points for the Raiders who reclaimed an 18-17 edge. The Mountain Hawks used a 4-1 spurt to take the lead for good and a kill from Alysia Fingall extended the match another set.
Set 4: Colgate 26, Lehigh 24
Hauschild and Shadwick landed kills in Colgate's 5-0 starting surge. Lehigh called a timeout and it paid dividends, leading the visitors on a 7-2 burst to tie the frame. The Mountain Hawks led 23-21 and had the first crack at set point leading 24-23 but Colgate kept fighting. The Raiders scored the final four points, finishing it off with kills from Hauschild and Milan Bayless to seal the match, 26-24.
UP NEXT
Colgate (16-6, 9-2 PL) begins a four-match road trip Friday at Holy Cross. First serve is set for 6 p.m.
