Final Stats

HAMILTON, N.Y. – The Lafayette volleyball team was defeated 3-0 (18-25, 19-25, 23-25) by Colgate in a Patriot League match on Saturday afternoon.

Sophomore setter Maria Balus recorded 17 assists and came two digs shy of recording a double-double for the Leopards. Senior Jet Manzi and junior Elizabeth Walsh both benefited from Balus' ability to find her teammates as the two tallied a team-high eight kills apiece. Freshman Katrina Ruggiero notched a game-high 17 digs on the afternoon.

The opening set of the game was close and the Leopards (3-15, 1-7 PL) trailed 10-9 after a service error by the Raiders (10-9, 6-2 PL). However, Colgate went on a 12-4 run and began to separate. Following a short 3-0 Lafayette run that was capped off by a Manzi kill, the Raiders were able to put away the set 25-18.

The Raiders remained in rhythm and jumped out to a 14-5 lead in the second set. Colgate tallied four service aces over that span, three coming from Kathleen Harris. The Leopards began to inch back into the set though with a 6-1 run that was capped off by a Walsh kill.

Leading 15-11, Colgate called a timeout and out of the break, went on a 5-1 run. From that point forward, the two teams traded points and Colgate eventually took the set 25-19.

Once again, the Raiders strongly opened up a set and grabbed a lead 7-1 to gets things going in the third set. The Leopards went on a 6-1 run that featured a pair of service aces by freshman Carly Kutschke. Colgate countered with a 5-1 run, but the Leopards took four-straight volleys to make it a 14-13 game.

It was a back-and-forth affair for the remainder of the set until the Raiders were able to edge out the Leopards 25-23 for the conference victory.

Lafayette will return to College Hill for a four-game home stand, beginning with a match against Lehigh on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. in Kirby Sports Center.