Waterville, MAINE. - In the Margaret M. Crook Center, the Colby Volleyball team hosted the NESCAC Quarterfinal matchup against Bowdoin this past Sunday. Despite their commendable efforts to assert control over the game with powerful offensive plays, the Mules, unfortunately, fell short, and their NESCAC championship journey came to an end while Bowdoin continues their quest in the semi-finals of the tournament. Even with their early dominance, Colby could not maintain the momentum, and the Polar Bears ultimately claimed victory in four sets (25-21, 19-25, 19-25, 16-25). This marks the conclusion of the Volleyball' season with an impressive overall record of 17-8 and a solid NESCAC record of 7-3.
The match unfolded with a strong start for the Mules in the first set, embarking on a 5-0 run that showcased their determination. The Bears made efforts to catch up but could noy shift the lead, leaving Colby to maintain their points advantage and secure the set at 25-21. The second set witnessed a more closely contested battle, with frequent lead changes until Bowdoin took the lead at 14-13 and held it, ultimately winning the set 25-19 after a crucial 4-point streak. In the third set, Bowdoin established an early lead at 11-5, making it challenging for the Mules to bridge the gap. Despite a spirited comeback effort by Colby, the Polar Bears secured the set. In the fourth set, Colby made a remarkable effort as their last attempt to advance to semi-finals, racing to an early 6-point lead with a series of four blocks. However, Bowdoin staged a remarkable comeback with a 10-point streak, a deficit that the Mules were unable to close. The Polar Bears ultimately won the set and secured their spot at 25-16.
Despite the result, Colby displayed their prowess with 47 kills compared to Bowdoin's 42 kills and an impressive 11 blocks compared to the Polar Bears' six.
Brady Moseley led the offensive charge with 11 crucial kills, and
Emma Davis added eight kills. The team received significant contributions from
Marjorie Johnson and
Sydney Bopp with seven and six kills, respectively. Defensively, Johnson's strong presence resulted in an impressive 6.0 blocks, while Bopp and
Hannah Wyllie contributed 4.0 blocks each and
Sarah Friedrichs chipped in with 3.0 blocks. In terms of playmaking,
Allison Rodriguez orchestrated the team's offense effectively with 23 assists, complemented by
Jordan Lee's 15 assists. On the defensive front,
Reanna Yadao's exceptional 25 digs anchored the team, while Moseley and Rodriguez tallied with 18 and 14 digs respectively.
As the season concludes, this matchup marked Wyllie's last game with the Mules after dedicating four years to the team. Her contributions and commitment have been invaluable. Looking ahead, Colby Volleyball will regroup and return next fall for what promises to be another exciting season, filled with determination and the pursuit of new successes.
