The road to a third consecutive Patriot League championship was far from easy for the Raiders, whose volleyball mettle was tested game after game against conference opponents who were eager to knock them from the top.

But they pulled it off, thanks to the grit, perseverance, and contributions of a deep roster — contributions came from throughout a deep roster.

Among the contributions were those provided by two first-years in Milan Bayless ’27 and Frances Torres ’27, who arrived with plenty of potential, yet made such an immediate impact that it surprised even their head coach.

“Milan and Frances have had an incredible start to their careers,” said Ryan Baker, who’s seen plenty of first-years in his 18 seasons at the helm of Colgate Volleyball.

“It’s rare to make such an impact in an established program, but both are driven, competitive, and coachable.”

Indeed, as the season progressed, Bayless and Torres saw their minutes increase. By November, and a few games remaining while the Raiders clung to a slim lead for first place, the two first-years were making an impact in crucial games.

One golden example came on Nov. 3. On the road against Navy, Colgate was down 2-0, then fought back to take the next three sets.

Bayless, coming off the bench, led the team in kills with 14, adding six digs and five blocks to her stat line. The next day, she led the team with kills again in a victory over Loyola. She finished with 25 kills for the weekend, earning her Patriot League Player of the Week, the first such trophy of her collegiate career.

During that same weekend, Torres was a force as well, collecting 15 kills and eight block assists across both games. Ten of those kills came in the comeback win over Navy. 

It didn't take long for first-year Milan Bayless to make an impact with the Raiders.

The effort earned her Rookie of the Week — her third such league award. She went on to earn the honor for a fourth time the following week after leading Colgate in kills with nine in a 3-0 sweep over Lafayette. She also added seven block assists. 

The win secured Colgate’s third straight regular season championship, and it meant Cotterell Court would host the playoff tournament for a fourth consecutive year.

Bayless and Torres had standout careers at the club level as high school students. When they arrived at Colgate, they joined a program that was ranked No. 1 in a preseason poll. 

While expectations were high, the team had to adjust to the loss of key seniors from the previous season. They had to learn to play together and establish the team’s identity. 

That’s precisely what they did, taking command of first place and winning 13-straight games.

Bayless and Torres got to experience a lot of winning early on, while playing side by side with the team’s top student-athletes.

For both first-years, it’s been a thrilling regular season.

“It was just everything I could want out of a first season here at Colgate,” Bayless said. “The upper classmen set such high standards for the training inside our gym. We had such high goals we completed, and we’re not done yet.”

Bayless, who collected a Rookie of the Week honor of her own in September, said her season was filled with learning experiences that helped her adjust to D-I volleyball.

First-year Frances Torres emerged as a force for Colgate.

“Throughout the season, I definitely got more comfortable in my role. I got more comfortable with myself and started playing not like a freshman. I played my own game, and it definitely helped with my teammates and coaches being confident in me.”

Along with being part of a winning culture and having exceptional teammates, one area that really stood out for Bayless was the team’s resilience, which helped her become a better player.

 “We had ups and downs,” she said. “We were resilient the entire season. I think I learned how to push through everything no matter what because we were doing it together. Sticking together through the highs and lows really go us through the season. It helped my play.”

Bayless said she’s thankful to be part of the team and is excited about what the future holds. 

The experience was also a wild ride for Frances, who learned on the fly while capitalizing in matches whenever her coach called her name.

“As a whole, this first season has been very exciting and has taught me so much and I am so thankful to have teammates and coaches who are willing to push me to get better,” Torres said.

Torres, who hails from Clarksburg, Md., said she’s also grateful for the support she received from family and friends, who were able to see her play in person at times. She also credited her club coaches for preparing her for D-I volleyball. 

“Heading into and throughout the season I was confident in the ability of our team,” Torres said. “There are so many talented players and dedicated coaches that are ready to help and make each other better. 

“And even during tight situations I was able to witness and be a part of a team who was never willing to give up and would continue to work hard at any cost.”

Bayless and Torres are ecstatic for the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament, where the 22-7 Raiders will take on No. 17 Creighton in Omaha, Neb., on Friday. The duo has given Colgate Volleyball even more reasons to be excited about the future. 

“While I'm very happy with what I've seen from them thus far, I'm even more excited for what's ahead,” Baker said. “They both have a very solid foundation, but I think they will continue to get better after time in our weight room as well as more time with the ball."