GREELEY, Colo. — The Colgate Raiders outlasted the Washington Huskies in a five-set match at Bank of Colorado Arena. The Huskies are established Big Ten opponents receiving national votes within the NCAA rankings, but the Raiders were able to edge out the 3–2 victory. The Raiders took the first two sets, while the Huskies secured sets three and four. Colgate claimed the win with a strong fifth set to earn their second win of the season.
Milan Bayless spearheaded the offense in the kills department, recording 18. Deren Cukur marked a career-best in assists, totaling 40 while Lal Akin was a defensive wall, aiding in 10 of the 15 blocks the team totaled.
COACH BAKER'S COMMENTS
"What a huge win for this program. Washington is one of the premier BIG ten teams in the country with a rich history of national championships and deep NCAA runs. Credit to the players and my staff. This was a total team win in all ways. Also thank you to all the families who attended and to our alumni for making these types of trips possible!"
"I'm very proud of our improvement throughout the weekend. This team is bought in and hungry to learn. I'm excited to get back to work this week."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1
- Colgate opened the set with a 3-0 run, highlighted by a service ace from Julia Oster and a kill by Maddie Rudolph.
- A string of scoring by Bayless and a block by Frances Torres and Akin pushed the Raiders' lead to 8-3.
- The Huskies responded with a 7-0 run, featuring two kills from Kierstyn Barton and service aces from Alexa Markley, leveling the score at 12-12.
- With the set tied at 22, Rudolph delivered back-to-back service aces, and Torres secured the set for Colgate with a kill, closing it out at 25-22.
Set 2
- The Raiders opened the set with a strong defense, forcing two attack errors from Washington to take a 2-0 lead.
- The Huskies then rallied with a 4-0 run, highlighted by two kills from Julia Hunt and Barton.
- Colgate responded with a 4-1 run, with Bayless and Tiana Owens each contributing a kill, regaining the lead at 9-7.
- Torres and Akin played pivotal roles in a series of defensive stands, including a block that tied the score at 12-12.
- A late 8-0 run by Colgate, with key blocks from Akin and multiple errors by Washington, extended their lead to 24-14 and effectively secured the set.
Set 3
- Washington opened the set with a strong 5-1 run, including two service aces from Taylor Simpson.
- The Raiders responded with a 4-0 run midway through the set, highlighted by a service ace from Cukur to bring the score to 12-8.
- The Huskies' Katy Wessels and Barton combined for crucial kills, extending their lead to 21-14.
- Owens delivered three kills late in the set for Colgate, but Washington secured the set 25-19 after a final point from an attack error.
Set 4
- Washington opened with a 4-0 run led by Barton's service, capitalizing on Colgate's attack errors.
- The Raiders managed to get on the board with a kill from Owens, but a service error quickly returned the serve to the Huskies.
- Simpson and Barton teamed up effectively, contributing to Washington's 8-2 lead with kills and a service ace.
- Colgate's Bayless delivered a service ace at 15-9, but Washington maintained control with consistent kills, particularly from Markley and Hunt.
- Despite a late push from the Raiders featuring kills from Bayless and Owens, Washington closed out the set 25-17 with a decisive kill from Simpson.
Set 5
- The Huskies opened the set with two consecutive points off Raider errors to take an early 2-0 lead.
- Colgate responded with a 4-0 run, highlighted by two kills from Bayless and a block by Bayless and Akin, to move ahead 4-2.
- Midway through the set, Owens delivered two crucial kills, maintaining the Raiders' lead at 9-6.
- Torres and Bayless contributed a block and a kill respectively to push Colgate's advantage to 15-10, securing the set and match victory.
GAME NOTES
- This was the first time in program history that the Raiders and the Huskies played against each other. Colgate took game one of the series.
- Bayless logged 18 kills, a 0.293 hitting percentage, three service aces, seven total blocks, and 25.5 points.
- Cukur had a personal best 40 assists and tacked on 16 digs.
- Akin notched 10 total blocks, two solo blocks and eight block assists.
- Torres stepped up in key moments logging nine kills and 10 points. .
UP NEXT
Colgate will travel to Storrs, Conn. and participate in the UConn Invitational. On Friday, Sept. 5 against Ball State (10:30 a.m.) and South Dakota (7:00 p.m.). Followed by a matchup against UConn on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m.
