Waterville, MAINE - The Colby College Volleyball team played their second home game Saturday resulting in another intense NESCAC matchup against the Bowdoin Polar Bears. The team secured their second NESCAC win of the season, setting the stage for a promising winning streak. The Mules exhibited dominance on both offense and defense, boasting a hitting percentage of .197, resulting in a total of 46 kills. Ultimately, they emerged victorious in four sets with scores of 25-16, 25-16, 20-25, and 25-19.

The first set began with a brief lead by the Polar Bears, holding a three-point advantage. However, Colby quickly gained momentum, equalized the score, and surged ahead to secure a 1-0 lead, ultimately winning the set 25-16. Similarly, in the second set, Bowdoin took an early lead at 6-2 but the Mules led a rapid comeback, establishing an eleven-point lead at 18-9, and ultimately closing out the set with a score of 25-16. In the third, the Polar Bears started to bring the pressure. While it remained closely contested throughout, with numerous ties and lead changes, Bowdoin managed to regain the upper hand and clinched the set with a score of 25-20. The final set was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, characterized by an early lead by Colby which placed pressure on the Polar Bears, who were attempting to play catch-up. Bowdoin mounted a comeback with numerous ties and lead changes throughout the set but it was Colby that secured the final set with a score of 25-19.

The team's attack was led by sophomore LJ Grant, who delivered a remarkable seventeen kills, marking the second-highest in her career, all while maintaining an impressive .410 hitting efficiency on 39 attempts. Grant also made a substantial impact on defense, amassing a total of 13 digs. Following closely on the offensive front was sophomore Sydney Bopp, contributing a total of seven kills on 12 attempts. Additionally, first-year players Brady Moseley and Azariah Love each recorded six kills, further bolstering the team's offensive capabilities. On the defensive side, both Hannah Wyllie and Sarah Friedrichs played pivotal roles in preventing the opposing team from scoring, each recording an impressive 3.0 total blocks. Ensuring the team's offensive prowess, Sydney Sick contributed significantly with 17 assists, while Allison Rodriguez added 15 assists. A notable standout was Reanna Yadao, whose exceptional performance as a libero secured an impressive total of 19 digs. Yadao's defensive skills were a crucial asset to the team's overall success.

Colby is set to return to action on Mayflower Hill against their other Maine rival Bates next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m for another NESCAC game.