Waterville, ME – Colby Volleyball returned to the Margaret M. Crook Center on Mayflower Hill for another thrilling NESCAC matchup, this time against the Williams Ephs. Coming off the exciting news of being ranked #24 in the country for the first time since 2006, the Mules showcased their resilience with a hard-fought five-set victory. With scores of 13-25, 18-25, 29-27, 21-25, and 15-13, Colby extended their winning streak to 14 games, improving to 15-1 overall and 5-0 in the conference, while Williams dropped to 9-6 overall and 2-4 in NESCAC play.

Colby dominated the opening set, seizing control early with powerful kills from Brady Moseley and Cyanne Jones. Gabby Grujic's pinpoint setting and a strong defensive front, led by LJ Grant and Sarah Friedrichs, stifled Williams' attacks. The Mules kept the momentum going throughout, taking the set decisively 25-18. Williams came out with a fierce response in the second set, surging ahead to a 13-6 lead. Despite Colby's attempts to rally with a series of kills, the Ephs' relentless offense proved too strong. Williams claimed the set 25-19, leveling the match at 1-1. The third set was a fierce back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading points in a gripping exchange. Though Williams kept the pressure on, Colby's late surge secured a 25-21 victory, putting them ahead 2-1. Williams, determined to keep the match alive, fought hard in the fourth set. The score remained tight throughout, with multiple timeouts and lead changes keeping the crowd on edge. The Ephs' resilience ultimately paid off, as they edged out a 25-21 win, forcing a decisive fifth set. The intensity reached its peak in the final set. Williams struck first, but Colby quickly responded, with kills inching the Mules ahead. Williams stayed close, trading blows with Colby as the score reached 13-13. In the end, Colby held their ground, capitalizing on a Williams attack error and sealing the match with a powerful block by Alexa Peguero and Bopp. Colby secured the fifth set 15-13, securing a dramatic 3-2 victory in a hard-fought battle.

Colby's win was powered by standout performances across the board. Moseley led the offense with 13 kills, supported by Jones with nine and Grant with eight. Defensively, Jones dominated at the net with seven blocks, while Sydney Bopp and Grant added five and four blocks, respectively. Jordan Lee orchestrated the attack with 21 assists, aided by Grujic's 16 and Reese Loyd's eight.

Up next for Colby is a highly anticipated NESCAC matchup against Middlebury College on Saturday at 2:00 PM. Both teams enter the match undefeated in conference play, setting the stage for a thrilling contest where only one will emerge victorious.