COLUMBIA, Mo. – Colgate conceded the final two sets to drop a 3-2 marathon to Missouri in the final match of the Mizzou Classic on Sunday afternoon.
Colgate had everything working in the early stages and built a 2-1 lead after dominating the third set 25-15. Missouri turned the tables by withstanding multiple Raider runs during the final two sets, including a 15-12 edge in the fifth and decisive final frame.
"This one hurts because we were points away from winning on an SEC team's home court," Head Coach Ryan Baker said after the defeat. "Give credit to Missouri. They showed great composure in sets 4 and 5. This weekend showed that we have a very good team. We will take this weekend and build from it."
Sophie Thompson finished with seven blocks to once again lead Colgate's defensive attack that held Missouri to a .191 hitting percentage. Carlie Rzeszotarski shined with a season-best 15 kills, while Gillian Hauschild posted 11 kills to go with a .360 hitting clip.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1: Colgate 25, Missouri 21
Colgate bolted out to an early 4-0 lead. Hauschild opened the frame with a kill and then Thompson and Milan Bayless combined for a block to give the Raiders an edge. Missouri closed within 11-9 and that remained the margin 18-16 before Claire Dewine's kill capped a 3-0 spurt to stretch the lead to 21-16. Hauschild ended the first stanza with a kill to give the Raiders the 25-21 triumph.
Set 2: Missouri 25, Colgate 19
Missouri used early runs to build a lead in Set 2. The Tigers scored five in a row and led 7-3 before Colgate cut the deficit to 10-9 on a pair of attack errors. Missouri countered with three straight points to add separation but Colgate found some rhythm after a block assist from Harper Snyder and Rzeszotarski sparked a 3-0 spurt to close within 18-15. Unfortunately that was as close as the Raiders would get and Missouri pulled away for the 25-19 win.
Set 3: Colgate 25, Missouri 15
The Raiders jumped out to an early 8-3 lead thanks to a block assist from Thompson and Hauschild. Thompson added a service ace to extend Colgate's lead to 13-6 and that was still the margin after kills from Snyder, Frances Torres, and Rzeszotarski made it 17-10. The Tigers had no answer in Set 3 and Colgate cruised to the 25-15 final triumph to take a 2-1 set lead.
Set 4: Missouri 25, Colgate 22
Colgate's method for success all weekend had been strong starts to the sets. Unfortunately that trend didn't continue after the Raiders raced out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth frame on the heels of two kills from Torres. Missouri responded with a 10-3 spurt to build an 11-8 lead, which was still the margin (21-18) until three straight Tiger errors allowed Colgate to tie it at 21-21. Missouri scored four of the final five points, however, to hold off the fourth set.
Set 5: Missouri 15, Colgate 12
After a back-and-forth start to the final frame, Missouri took control with a 6-1 charge that turned a 5-4 deficit into a 10-6 lead. Kills from Rzeszotarski and Snyder helped Colgate pull within 12-10 but the Tigers capitalized on three late service errors to seal the comeback.
UP NEXT
Colgate (2-1) is back in action next weekend at the Penn State Invitational, starting Friday with a doubleheader against Western Kentucky (11 a.m.) and James Madison (4 p.m.).
