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EASTON, Pa. -- Lafayette fell behind early in each of its three sets with Colgate Thursday night, as a balanced Raider attack sent the Leopards to a 3-0 defeat at Kirby Sports Center.

Three players managed seven kills, and another two chipped in six for Colgate (8-12, 6-3 PL), which won its third-straight conference match. Lafayette (10-8, 2-5 PL), meanwhile, has now lost four in a row after tonight's setback. Elizabeth Walsh led the way with nine kills, while Lauren Pisauro (11) and Tori Smith (10) each reached double-digit digs on the defensive side.

"We knew Colgate was a very disciplined, talented team, and they showed that tonight," head coach Terri Dadio Campbell said. "We struggled a bit offensively, and their hitters definitely challenged our blockers."

After kills from Walsh and Katherine Stevens gave the Leopards a 2-1 lead in the opening set, the Raiders jumped ahead with a 4-0 run and never trailed again in the frame. The Maroon and White remained within one at 11-10 midway through, but another Colgate run, this time a five-point streak, helped the visitors open up a comfortable advantage.

The Raiders moved ahead 8-3 early in set two. Back-to-back service aces from Meghan Donohue highlighted a 5-1 stretch to pull Lafayette within one before Colgate responded with a 5-1 run of its own to reclaim its five-point lead. The Leopards would not get closer than four points the rest of the way.

With the Raiders up 14-9 in the third set, kills from Walsh and Brianne Giangiobbe, along with an ace from Sarah Moult forced a Colgate timeout. The visitors, though, answered with a 5-0 run and ultimately wrapped up the sweep.

Giangiobbe ranked second on the team with seven kills in the contest, while Stevens totaled six kills behind a strong .214 attack percentage.

Lafayette's next opportunity to get back in the win column comes Saturday afternoon at Navy (2-17, 0-6 PL). That match is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.