Oct. 2, 2009

Final Stats

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Colgate held the Navy volleyball team to an attack percentage of .068 to post a four-set victory over the Midshipmen, Friday night at the Wesley A. Brown Field House in Annapolis. The Raiders (5-9, 2-1 Patriot League) rallied after dropping the first set to defeat the Mids (5-12, 1-2) by scores of 23-25, 25-17, 25-19, 25-13.

In addition to the loss, the Navy team may have lost Carolyn Ewert (Bakersfield, Calif.) for an indefinite amount of time due to an injury. The freshman outside hitter who entered the match ranked 10th in the league in kills per set was hurt early in the third set of tonight's match.

Navy slowly built up a 15-10 lead over Colgate in the first set, but the Raiders were able to tie the score at 19-19. After the teams exchanged points to make the score 20-20, the Mids quickly took a 22-20 lead on a Colgate attack error and a solo block by Maida Kalic' (So., Vernon, N.Y.). A kill by Logan Keala sliced the margin in half, but a kill by Ewert gave Navy a 23-21 lead. Kalic' and Abbie Merkl (Sr., Upper Marlboro, Md.) promptly teamed for a block of Kayleigh Durket to give Navy its first set point. Another kill by Keala allowed the Raiders to stave off Navy's first opportunity to win the set, but when Keala was whistled for a ball-handling error the Mids to a 1-0 lead in the match.

"We played very well in the first set, especially on defense," said Navy head coach Mike Schwob. "Unfortunately we didn't carry that over into the start of the second set and we found ourselves battling uphill the entire time."

The score was tied at 3-3 early in the second set when Colgate went on an 8-2 run to take an 11-5 lead. Navy battled back and closed to within two points at 17-15, but the Raiders soon took a 22-16 lead to pull away from the Mids.

Both teams played well at the start of the third set. The score was tied 7-7 when Ewert crumbled to the ground after going up for an attack. After spending a few minutes on the ground while her left leg was examined, she was helped off the court and was unable to return to the match.

Colgate took advantage of Ewert's absence and scored 11 of the next 12 points to take an 18-8 lead. Navy would be able to close to within four points at 19-15 before the Raiders scored four of the next five points on their way to closing out the set.

The late-set rally sparked the Mids at the beginning of the fourth set. The score was tied at 9-9 until the Raiders scored the next six points to take control of the set.

"We really struggled out there without Carolyn," said Schwob. "After she went out you could see the drop in our offense, defense and in our emotion.

"We felt good about our team depth coming into this season and now it is time for someone to step up and take control of that spot in the lineup."

In addition to holding a .189-.068 advantage in hitting percentage, Colgate also held leads over Navy of 55-43 in digs and 10-6 in blocks.

The loss overshadowed one of the best matches in the brief career of Navy's Kalic'. The sophomore totaled 10 kills, a .381 attack percentage and five blocks. She was the only Mid to reach double figures in kills on the night.

Leading all players in the match in kills was Colgate's Keala, who totaled 12 on the night. She also added 16 digs and five blocks for the Raiders.

Navy returns to competition Saturday at 12 Noon when the Mids play host to Bucknell.