STORRS, Conn. — The Colgate Raiders dropped both matches at the UConn Invitational. In their first encounter with both teams, Ball State University edged Colgate University 3–2 in a tense five-set match while South Dakota captured a 3–1 victory. 

Set 1 (Colgate 25, Ball St. 19)

• Colgate's Frances Torres contributed two pivotal kills early in the set, helping to maintain a lead 10–7. 
•  Milan Bayless added three crucial kills, including one that extended Colgate's lead to 19–13.  
• The Raiders' Lal Akin made a significant impact helping the team score eight points, including two kills and a block, to lead 21–13.
• Maddie Rudolph recorded two kills, including the set-winning point for the Raiders at 25-19.  

Set 2 (Colgate 25, Ball St. 15)

• Colgate jumped out to a quick 6–2 run with three Raider kills and three Cardinal errors. 
• Deren Cukur facilitated the Raiders' attack, assisting on numerous plays to maintain their lead.  
• Trading points back and forth mid-set, Colgate began scoring two points to every Ball State point to push their lead 20–14. 
• Colgate's defense proved effective, blocking several attack attempts from Ball State, including crucial plays by Rudolph.  
• Colgate secured the set with a decisive 25–15 win over Ball State to take an early 2–0 lead.   

Set 3 (Ball St. 25, Colgate 16)

• Changing the tempo, the Cardinals opened with a strong service performance, including two consecutive aces by Lindsey Green to start 5–0. 
•  Bayless contributed three kills, helping to narrow the early deficit to 5–3.
• The Raiders cut the gap and tied the set at eight apiece from Bayless' kill. 
• The Cardinals went on an eight-point run to create a gaping 15–8 lead. 
• Torres added two kills, keeping the set competitive despite Ball State's lead.  
• Ball State took advantage of their lead and closed out set three on top, 25–16.

Set 4 (Ball St. 25, Colgate 19)

• The Cardinals jumped out to an early 3–0 lead, but the Raiders quickly responded with four unanswered points. 
• Keeping the match competitive, the two teams traded points until both hit 10 points. 
• Colgate went on a four-point run from two Cardinal errors and two kills from Bayless for a 14–10 lead. 
• The Cardinals closed and surpassed the gap with a seven-point run. They notched six kills and benefited from a Colgate error. 
• Leading 19–16, the Cardinals generated momentum to stay ahead and forced a fifth set after a 25–19 win. 

Set 5 (Ball St. 25, Colgate 15)

• The Cardinals opened the set with a 4–0 run, including kills by VanOort and Riley Whitlock. 
• The Raiders were able to halt the Cardinal's momentum for a play until they earned three more points to extend their lead 7–1. 
• Ball State was able to capitalize on Raider mistakes and kills to close the set with a 15-5 score, securing the match victory.

Game Notes:

• Bayless had a season high of 22 kills and 25.5 points.
• Akin had a career-high of nine kills and 12.5 points.
• Rudolph had a career high of eight kills and 13.5 points.
• Bayless, Akin, and Rudolph all logged three solo blocks and one block assist.
• Cukur had 39 assists. 

Set 1 (South Dakota 25, Colgate 20)

• Three quick kills from the Raiders helped them obtain a close but early 3–2 lead. 
• South Dakota tied the match at three but the teams rallied keeping the content close. 
• Tied again at seven, the Coyotes managed to slowly pull away 9–7. 
• The Raiders still trailed 13–11, but took advantage of the Coyotes attacking errors.
• South Dakota tallied a quick six points to jump out to a commanding 19–12 lead. 
• Colgate chipped away at the deficit to close the gap to 22–18 from a combination of kills, blocks, and 'Yotes attacking errors.  
• The surge was not enough, as South Dakota took set one, 25–20. 

Set 2 (Colgate 27, South Dakota 25) 

• Tiana Owens led Colgate with multiple kills, contributing significantly to the team's offense. Owens logged four kills in the Raiders' first 10 points. 
• The 'Yotes went on a three-point run, but the Raiders responded to close the gap while still trailing, 15–14. 
• Bayless and Owens each notched a kill to level the score at 17 apiece.
• South Dakota jumped out with three points and the Raiders rallied back to tie the set up for the sixth time in the set at 23. 
• South Dakota earned the set point but Colgate fought back and pushed past the standard 25 points per set to win, 27–25. 

Set 3 (South Dakota 25, Colgate 16)  

• Rudolph recorded two early kills for the Raiders to keep the level of play high. 
• The Coyotes consistently earned points to keep a slight lead over their opponent. 
• South Dakota had a five-point run to go up 10–6.
• The Raiders rallied and cut the deficit to three points, but the 'Yotes took advantage of Raiders' attacking errors and notched four kills to extend their lead 21–13.
• With the gap too large to close, South Dakota took a 2–1 set lead over Colgate with a 25–16 win. 

Set 4 (South Dakota 25, Colgate 20)  

• The Raiders maintained an early lead, opening the set with a 2–0 advantage.  
• In a high-stakes fourth set, both teams fought to maintain a lead. 
• The Raiders earned kills from Bayless, Jordyn Moore, Akin, Owens, Rudolph, and Cukur to take a late 15–13 lead. 
• The Coyotes rallied and earned five points to the Raiders' one to regain the lead, 18–16.
• South Dakota did not let the lead slip as they concluded the match, 25–21. 

Up Next: 
Colgate currently holds a 3–2 overall record after the loss to South Dakota. The Raiders will face UConn on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 3 p.m. to  conclude the UConn Invitational.