WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. – Colby volleyball travelled to Williamstown for their sixth conference game of the season. The Mules were coming off of their first NESCAC victory, a five-set win over Connecticut College, but faced a new challenge in the Ephs.

Williams started fast, storming to a 8-1 lead in the first game. The Ephs kept the momentum throughout the set. Elizabeth Middlebrook (pictured), Nicole Petherbridge, and Natalie Simonton were able to generate kills for Colby off of Morgan Selby assists, but the offense could not find consistency and the Ephs took the first set 25-10.

The first game set the tone for the rest of the match, with Williams continuing to pressure the Mules. Colby played the Ephs more evenly in the second game, which was as close as 11-12 at the halfway mark, but Williams quickly pulled away, taking the second set 25-16. Colby continued to struggle offensively in the third set, positing a -.156 team kill percentages in the last game. The inconsistency allowed Williams to pull ahead and the Ephs took the final game 25-10 for the 3-0 win. Petherbridge and Middlebrook led the Mules on offense, earning nine of the Mules' 15 kills. Selby generated 12 assists and led the team with nine digs.

CLINTON, N.Y. – The Mules traveled to Hamilton College for the second game of their conference road trip. The team looked to diversity their offense against the Continentals, who also owned one conference win. The Mules fought hard in three close sets against Hamilton, but ultimately fell 3-0.

The match was not without opportunity for Colby. Although the Mules never held leads in their first two sets, which they dropped 25-19 and 25-20, Colby held the advantage for much of the third. Hamilton stayed close however, and tied the game at 18 points apiece. From there, the Continentals took over, eventually earning a 25-22 victory over the Mules. Of note, Nicole Petherbridge played well to slow Hamilton's Guliana Rankin at net, who leads the NESCAC in kills per set and is second in kills.

Petherbridge (pictured) and Natalie Simonton each stepped up with efficient, aggressive play. Petherbridge led the team with 10 kills en route to a 0.167 kill percentage, while Simonton led the Mules with a 0.25 kill percentage on seven kills. Setter Morgan Selby generated 14 assists, while libero Julia Hutchings flashed skill and grittyness on defense, leading the team with 17 digs and stabalizing the serve.

The Mules next travel to Smith College on Friday, where they will play Clark University at 7:00 PM (EST) before taking on Bard College and Smith the following day.