EASTON, Pa. – The Lafayette College volleyball team dropped a hard fought match to Colgate Saturday afternoon in five set, almost handing the Raiders their first loss of the season.

Colgate (13-5, (6-0)) came out and took the first set by a quick 25-18, out hitting Lafayette (12-9, (1-4)) .355 to .054.
The Leopards though, fought back in the second set, squeezing by the Raiders to take the second set 27-25. They would then take the third set 25-19, hitting a .268 to Colgate's .143.

Looking as if the Raiders were about to suffer their first loss of the season, the two teams battled back-and-forth but Colgate hung on to take the fourth set by a close 27-25, forcing a fifth set.  

Colgate came out and took the lead in the fifth fast and never gave it up claiming the 15-7 set win and taking the match 3-2.

Tonight's match marks the seventh five set match the Leopards have played in so far this season. Of those seven, they have won four, falling to nonconference opponent Fairfield and conference opponents Lehigh and Colgate but using five sets on Friday night against Holy Cross to claim their first Patriot League victory of the season.

The match saw the score tied 29 times throughout the five sets and 14 lead changes with five coming in the third set and nine coming in the fourth. Neither the first, second or fifth set saw any lead changes.   

Freshman Ellie Carrera-Justiz totaled 17 kills on the afternoon closely followed by sophomore Grace Tulevech with 15 and sophomore Madi Wahrmund with 12. Freshman Grace Steurer added to her weekend, tacking on six kills tonight to add to her 11 from Friday night.

The Leopards will hit the road for a midweek conference matchup with Navy on Tuesday before returning home to play American on Saturday.