BALTIMORE – Milan Bayless led the team in kills for the second consecutive night and Colgate came away with a 3-0 sweep at Loyola on Saturday afternoon inside Reitz Arena.
Colgate holds a one-match lead in the Patriot League standings with one regular-season game remaining. The Raiders can clinch their third consecutive regular-season title outright with a win against Lafayette in the finale next Saturday at Cotterell Court.
The fitting sweep was head coach Ryan Baker's 300th career victory. Baker in his 18th season became the program's second coach to reach the milestone, joining all-time winningest coach Janet Little who amassed 385 victories in 17 years at the helm (1977-1993).
"This was a gutsy road win," Baker said after the victory. "We played our style of volleyball from start to finish. I'm really proud of our leadership and selflessness this weekend.
"I've been blessed to work with some of the brightest, hardest working, and competitive student-athletes in the country. This milestone is because of them and the amazing staff and administrators I've been surrounded by. I wake up everyday with a sense of gratitude and appreciation for them and this world-class university."
Bayless landed a team-best 11 kills to go with a .355 hitting percentage in leading the Raiders offensively. Abby Shadwick finished with seven kills and 18 digs, while Frances Torres and Greta Hoogstra posted six blocks apiece on the defensive side of the net.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Colgate 25, Loyola 19
After 14 ties and seven lead changes in the opening frame, Colgate broke away with a 3-0 run capped off by a block from Hoogstra and Gillian Hauschild to jump on top 19-15. Hauschild and Sophie Thompson keyed another 3-0 run that stretched Colgate's lead to 22-17. An attack error by the Greyhounds capped off the first set for the Raiders, 25-19.
Set 2: Colgate 25, Loyola 20
Loyola built an early 9-4 lead in the second set before Colgate started to chip away. Thompson had a kill and a block assist with Torres during a 3-0 surge that brought the Raiders within 17-16. Colgate turned the tables with a late 6-0 burst, led by a pair of kills from Bayless to shift a one-point deficit into a 22-18 advantage. Loyola pulled within 22-20 before a kill from Hauschild sealed the second frame for the Raiders, 25-20.
Set 3: Colgate 25, Loyola 20
A seesaw battle saw both teams trade runs in the final set. Kills from Hauschild and Bayless, along with another block from Thompson and Torres, pushed the Raiders in front 11-5. Loyola responded with four unanswered points to draw even 13-13 before Bayless and Torres landed kills in a 3-0 surge. The Raiders once again led 22-20 when Colgate took charge with the final three points, capped off by back-to-back aces from Claire Dewine to clinch the set and match, 25-20.
UP NEXT
Colgate (19-7, 12-3 PL) closes the regular season on Saturday when the Raiders host Lafayette at 3 p.m.
