CLINTON, N.Y. – The Colby Volleyball team traveled to New York for an exciting NESCAC matchup against Hamilton, extending their impressive season record to 13-1 overall and remaining undefeated in conference play at 3-0, once again proving their resilience on the court. The Continentals dropped to 3-8 overall and 0-4 in NESCAC play. The Mules secured the victory in four sets (28-30, 25-18, 25-13, 25-16), with the first set being a highly contested battle.

In the first set, Colby opened strong with a kill by Marjorie Johnson, but Hamilton quickly responded, keeping the score tight. The Mules gained momentum with key kills from Cyanne Jones and service aces from Gabby Grujic, establishing a slight lead. However, Hamilton fought back with kills from Drew Stimson and aces from Cate Iven, pushing the Continentals ahead. The teams battled point for point, but Hamilton ultimately clinched the set 30-28 with a crucial block. In the second set, the Mules pulled ahead despite some competitive moments from Hamilton. The Continentals tied the score multiple times, but Colby maintained composure and stayed in control. The set ended with a block from LJ Grant and Sydney Bopp, followed by a decisive kill from Bopp, giving the Mules a 25-18 win. In the third set, Colby built a steady lead while Hamilton struggled to regain momentum. Despite a few successful kills by the Continentals, the Mules sealed the set with a kill by Jillian Roche and a block from Jones and Sarah Friedrichs.The final set saw early back-and-forth exchanges before the Mules's strong offense and defense helped them pull ahead. In the closing moments, Colby forced Hamilton into several attack errors, and with a final kill from Bopp, they secured the set 25-16, and the match victory.

Johnson led Colby with 17 kills, followed by Grant with 14 and Roche with 11. Grant, Grujic, and Reese Loyd each contributed 2 service aces. On defense, Bopp led with four blocks, supported by Friedrichs with three and Jones with two. Grujic tallied 28 assists, while Jordan Lee added 27. Loyd dominated the back row with 23 digs, followed by Grant with 15 and Grujic with 9. The Mules dominated offensively with a total of 69 kills, nearly doubling Hamilton's 35. Colby also maintained a strong hitting percentage of .285, showcasing their efficiency and control at the net throughout the match.

The Mules will face another NESCAC opponent this Saturday, taking on Amherst College at 2:00 PM in Amherst, Massachusetts. Colby Volleyball will aim to extend their exciting winning streak and continue their strong conference performance.